Derek Hough and his wife, Hayley Erbert, are sharing a deeply personal part of their journey — one they say reshaped them in ways they’ll carry forever.
The Dancing With the Stars professional and his wife recently revealed that they previously experienced a miscarriage, opening up about the loss during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
A Painful Chapter Behind Their Parenthood Journey
Although the couple is currently expecting, Hough and Erbert acknowledged that their path to becoming parents has not been without heartbreak.
On Wednesday, the two took to Instagram to honor the awareness month by sharing a touching video that included footage from an earlier pregnancy announcement — one that came before the loss they quietly endured.
“There are some things in life that change you forever,” the couple wrote in the caption. “For us, this is one of those moments.”
Remembering The Baby They Lost
Hough and Erbert described the experience as a chapter filled with love, grief, and healing.
“A chapter of love, loss, heartbreak, and everything in between,” they continued. “As October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we wanted to share this part of our story to honor the baby who never made it earthside.”
The message struck an emotional chord with fans, many of whom praised the couple for their honesty and vulnerability.
Outpouring Of Support From Fans And ‘DWTS’ Family
Following the post, support quickly poured in from followers and members of the DWTS community. Fellow dancers and fans alike shared messages of love, gratitude, and solidarity, thanking the couple for helping bring visibility to an often-silent struggle.
By speaking openly, Hough and Erbert offered comfort to others who have faced similar losses — reminding them they’re not alone.
Moving Forward With Hope
While the couple did not go into further detail, their message made one thing clear: grief and hope can coexist. As they continue their journey toward parenthood, Hough and Erbert are choosing to honor the past while embracing what lies ahead.
The sweet, but heartbreaking, video showed a previous time where the couple were celebrating a pregnancy and sharing the news friends and family, including Hough’s sister Julianne. However, the video quickly changed to tear-jerking footage of the two mourning their loss.
While the couple didn’t disclose when they suffered the miscarriage, their video post included a clip of a DWTS scene in 2024 where the two made a special appearance and were visibly emotional during their performance.
“One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, a silent heartbreak so many families know, and one we unfortunately had to experience,” their caption continued. “As we share this, know that there’s a rainbow not far behind.”
The post was immediately met with condolences and words of support from friends and followers.
“My dear friend, you are the strongest person I know!” fellow DWTS dancer Britt Stewart commented. “You simply radiate strength and light. Sharing your story will give so many people hope. I love you dearly.”
“Love you both,” fellow dancer Jenna Johnson added.
Erbert, 31, who has documented her pregnancy on Instagram since the couple’s July announcement, has been very open about her past health complications, specifically in 2023 when she suffered a cranial hematoma and needed emergency surgery.
As they’re due date nears, the couple has stayed mum on the baby’s gender, but fans are speculating that the DWTS judge may have accidentally revealed the news in Tuesday night’s episode of the ballroom dance competition.
