Mandy Moore is opening up about a deeply personal chapter in her journey to motherhood — including an IVF experience she describes as “unsuccessful” before unexpectedly becoming pregnant with her third child.
The actress shared the emotional details during a recent appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, where she reflected on fertility, family planning and the surprise arrival of baby Lou.
Why Mandy Moore Turned to IVF
Moore explained that after naturally conceiving her first two sons with husband Taylor Goldsmith, she decided to pursue IVF as a kind of backup plan.
The goal wasn’t necessarily immediate pregnancy. Instead, Moore said she wanted the flexibility of having embryos frozen “on ice” for the future in case she later decided to expand her family again.
But the process didn’t go the way she expected.
“So, I did a round of IVF, and it was unsuccessful — we didn’t get any viable eggs, no embryos,” Moore revealed.
The IVF Result That Changed Her Perspective
After the disappointing results, Moore said she accepted the possibility that her family might already be complete.
She explained that the failed IVF attempt helped settle things emotionally for her at the time.
“If this is something that is meant to be, it will happen naturally,” she recalled thinking.
The actress added that she already felt incredibly grateful for her two sons, August “Gus” and Oscar “Ozzie.”
Then Came the Big Surprise
Despite not actively trying for another child, Moore later became unexpectedly pregnant with daughter Louise “Lou” Goldsmith in 2024.
“And then Lou just had to show up,” Moore joked during the interview.
The pregnancy came as a shock even to the couple themselves, especially after the unsuccessful IVF experience.
“We were not trying, but obviously we were open to it because of the IVF of it all,” she explained.
Three Children in Three-and-a-Half Years
Moore also reflected on how intense the experience of having three young children so close together has been.
“I had three kids in three-and-a-half years,” she said.
While she admitted she is “still emotionally recovering,” the actress noted that she feels fortunate her pregnancies themselves were relatively smooth.
Mandy Moore Says Motherhood Is the ‘Greatest Gift’
The actress has become increasingly candid about motherhood and fertility in recent years.
Earlier this year, Moore celebrated her first Mother’s Day as a mom of three and described parenthood as “the single greatest gift” of her life.
She also previously revealed that doctors once warned her there was only a “slim chance” she would become pregnant naturally before welcoming her first son.
Why Her Story Is Resonating With Parents
Moore’s honesty about IVF, fertility uncertainty and unexpected pregnancy has struck a chord with many fans online.
Her experience highlights something many families quietly go through: fertility journeys rarely unfold exactly as planned.
For some, IVF leads to success. For others, the emotional process ends differently — and sometimes life takes an entirely unexpected turn afterward.
That openness is part of why so many parents say they appreciate celebrities speaking candidly about the realities behind family planning, fertility struggles and the pressure many people place on themselves while trying to grow a family.
