Alcindor learned she got pregnant naturally after going through multiple rounds of IVF with her first baby

NEED TO KNOW

Yamiche Alcindor’s family is growing by one more
The NBC News White House correspondent is pregnant and expecting her second baby
Alcindor already shares son Yrie with husband Nate

Yamiche Alcindor’s family is growing by one more!

The NBC News White House correspondent, 38, is pregnant and expecting her second baby with her husband Nate, sharing the news exclusively with PEOPLE. Alcindor explains that this pregnancy is particularly special because she was able to conceive naturally after undergoing multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with her first child.

“During my last pregnancy with my son Yrie, I shared my tough journey dealing with infertility and multiple rounds of IVF over several years through the Today show,” Alcindor explains. “Earlier this year, Nate and I decided we wanted to try for another child and started doing the preliminary testing to undergo another round of IVF.”

Before they decided to embark on the often-difficult journey of IVF, Alcindor and her husband planned a trip to Jamaica — their first without their son, Yrie.

“Well, on the morning of our flight to Jamaica, I was feeling really exhausted and nauseous and decided to take a pregnancy test,” she shares. “I screamed — literally screamed — when the words ‘pregnant’ popped up on the screen of the test.”

“I have never been pregnant naturally, and honestly never thought it could happen for me after so many years of trying to conceive before my son. My husband, Nate, eventually came running into the bathroom and looked like a deer in headlights when I showed him the positive pregnancy test.”

After their vacation, the couple went to their IVF clinic, thinking Alcindor was four to six weeks pregnant. They were shocked to learn that the journalist was actually almost three months pregnant.

“My entire first trimester had gone by without me noticing!” Alcindor says. “We were beyond shocked and also overjoyed.”

“I have to admit, I was hesitant at first to share this part of my story because as someone who has dealt with infertility for years, I used to get sad when women would share stories about getting pregnant without really trying to conceive because it was a reminder that my body wasn’t doing what I so badly wanted it to do and it made me feel like I was failing,” she continues.

However, Alcindor says that she’s hopeful that sharing her story can touch someone out there who is going through a similar journey and can feel “deep lasting hope” that she’ll be able to build the family she dreams of.

For Alcindor, sharing the news with her friends and family was extremely exciting.

“My mom in particular was over the moon because she is fully obsessed with my son, Yrie,” says Alcindor. “She was also praying for us as she knew we wanted to have more children. She was as surprised as we were because she was my main shoulder to cry on during so many years of infertility.”

“I also think Yrie is excited,” says the proud mom. “He is a very social toddler so I know he will love his sibling!”

So far, Alcindor’s pregnancy has included exhaustion and food cravings. She’s been craving sweet treats, but has been able to stay busy covering the White House. Alcindor also recently learned that she’s expecting another little boy.

“I am feeling very blessed and very outnumbered in my household,” she says. “The first thing I did when I found out that this baby was a boy was play ‘I Always Wanted a Brother,’ the song from the 2024 movie, Mufasa: The Lion King.”

Adding that she hopes her boys have a better relationship than Scar and Mufasa, Alcindor explains she broke the news to Nate and Yrie that they’d be gaining another little boy by blasting the song during breakfast.

“It took Nate a few minutes to figure out what I was saying, but once he figured it out, I could see the joy fill his face,” she says.

As she looks to the months ahead, Alcindor shares that she feels excited, blessed, and grounded.

“There is a lot going on in the world right now, including a lot of uncertainty and frankly, sadness,” Alcindor says. “I am grateful to have something joyful to look forward to at this moment.”

“My colleague, Today show anchor Sheinelle Jones, who recently lost her husband to cancer, said something that really stuck with me,” she continues. “She said, ‘If you see me now and you see me laughing, or you turn on the morning show and I’m laughing and having a good time, you root for me because I’m fighting for my joy.’ I am so rooting for Sheinelle’s joy and the joy of so many people who are mourning loved ones or who are dealing with grief tied to other things like infertility, deep divisions or uncertain futures.”

“But, I am feeling as capable and as strong as ever as I navigate all that comes with balancing motherhood, an upcoming book, a demanding job and my future dreams.”