Padma Lakshmi Is Pregnant!

Peter Brooker/Rex

Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is expecting her first child, her rep confirms.

“Model, author, and Emmy-nominated Padma Lakshmi confirms that she is carrying her first child after years of struggling with endometriosis, a cause for which she has co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America,” the rep said in a statement to Us Weekly.

“As a result of her condition, this pregnancy has been referred to by her physician as nothing short of a medical miracle, and due to its delicate nature, we ask/implore the press to respect Ms. Lakshmi’s privacy at this time.”

Regarding her endometriosis, Padma, 39, told PEOPLE, “I’m somebody who never knew I had this condition and always thought that everything was okay. I found out in a very hard, difficult way – and I had to be operated on. Now, I’m fine but it was a very trying ordeal.”

The baby’s father has not been identified.

Comments

Congratulations to her! As someone who was diagnosed with endometriosis at 14 and was told for many years that I would most likely never have children, I understand the sheer joy of learning that the doctors could be (and were) proven wrong.

- Tia on October 1st, 2009

I love her! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Courtney on October 1st, 2009

She’s lovely, she’ll be so beautiful pregnant. I hope she gives the baby an Indian name, it would be nice to see some of that culture’s names achieve the popularity Irish, French, and Italian names have.

- Jen on October 1st, 2009

How exciting! Congrats!

- MZ on October 1st, 2009

What great news! I love Top Chef and she’s so beautiful. After such a rough road, I hope her pregancy goes smoothly and both she and her child are healthy.

- Liliana on October 1st, 2009

Congrats! As someone with endometriosis it is nice to hear that she was able to become pregnant. I had surgery for it 4 years ago and i still worry that when the time comes that i want to become pregnant that i won’t be able to.

- melissa on October 1st, 2009

I personally know three friend of mine who suffered from endometriosis but still went on to become pregnant. One of them even thought she could never get pregnant and had a one-night stand that turned out to be the best thing she ever did. The other two had surgery and treatment and were both pregnant within 3 months. It can happen. Hang in there.

- Beverley on October 1st, 2009

She’s great on Top Chef, best of luck!

- Sandra on October 1st, 2009

You know that’s going to be one beautiful baby – congrats to her!

- Jen on October 1st, 2009

So is that a picture of her baby bump? Confused…

- Viv on October 1st, 2009

I was diagnosed with endo. after I had my 1st child. Before having her, I’d also had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and was told I may never have children at all, so I had thought it was a miracle that I even had one child. Well I now have 5 kids with one confirmed loss…so at least 6 pregnancies.

GREAT news for Padma!

- mommykonny on October 1st, 2009

Oh Wonderful news
To hear this has made my day
Hope she has a easy pregnancy

- Lily on October 1st, 2009

Congratulations to her! I love Top Chef!

- UggaMugga.com on October 1st, 2009

yay congrats to padma! i’ve read that she’s had a lot of struggles in her life, so it’s wonderful to hear such news!

- kmb on October 1st, 2009

Congrats to Padma, this came out of no where !!

Omg, I think what would shock me even more would be to heart that the father is Salman Rushdie’s !!

- Rach on October 1st, 2009

Viv – what’s so confusing? The pic was taken at the Emmy’s so more than likely it is a baby bump since the article doesn’t mention how far along she is.

Congrats to Padma! Her pregnancy is an inspiration to the many women who struggle with infertility!

- Jana on October 1st, 2009

Congrats!! I don’t watch Top Chef but I’ve seen her on the Today show before and she struck me as incredibly sweet and humble and obviously very beautiful, physically.

Her baby will be wonderful

- Robyn on October 1st, 2009

Congrats to her!!

- CTBmom on October 1st, 2009

If she wanted us to “respect” her privacy then she should not have announced it.

- Mary on October 1st, 2009

Mary, I’m guessing she announced it because the rumors have been swirling for a while. At least when you have your reps announce it you have some control over how the info is released. The alternative would be endless paparazzi photos and speculation and I’m assume that Padma didn’t want to bother with that.

- Tiger Lily on October 1st, 2009

The comments here make me feel so much better. I was recently diagnosed myself and I’m terrified. Thanks guys, for the positive stories. And Padma for giving me hope!

- GiannaG on October 1st, 2009

As a woman with severe endometriosis myself, seeing this made me cry! I’m so happy for her!

- katie on October 1st, 2009

Tiger Lily, there were rumors she was pregnant? I read all the “rumor mills” and this announcement was a complete shock for me. I am so excited for her as I am a huge fan of Padma.

- Wowza on October 1st, 2009

Yay! I too have endometriosis and dealt with infertility. Five months after surgery I found out I was pregnant! I am due in May It’s not an easy diagnosis to deal with but do not lose hope.

I am happy to hear that she co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America. There definitely needs to be more awareness out there of this disease.

- Noise on October 1st, 2009

Made me cry and gave me hope, I too am glad to heat that she has co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America. This is an area that needs more awareness and people to know about it. Congratulations

- 4little1s.com on October 1st, 2009

I’m not familiar with her but a huge congratulations goes her way! My mother in law also suffered from this, had an operation and it still seemed like nothing was working. They tried for 14 years before my husband finally came into their lives. MIL thought she had the flu

- Tyd on October 1st, 2009

Can’t IVF get around severe endometriosis?

- Kate on October 1st, 2009

@Wowza- There had been speculation on Indian/Indian American blogs recently.

- Tiger Lily on October 1st, 2009

“If she wanted us to “respect” her privacy then she should not have announced it.”

yes, Mary, since announcing her pregnancy automatically grants the entire world access to her business. *rolls eyes*

- sinclair on October 1st, 2009

Okay, that kid is going to be GORGEOUS. Congrats!
Haha just read a comment on another website that says “It’s Tom Colicchio’s.” I would die.

- M on October 1st, 2009

The rumored dad is Manu Nathan, a lawyer in NYC who has been photographed a lot with Padma recently.

- Tiger Lily on October 1st, 2009

My step sister has a beautiful 11 mo old baby boy and she has the condition. Before she got pregnant she was told she would never have another child

- kb on October 1st, 2009

I wonder how far along she is! I hope CBB will tell us. Congrats to Padma! That is great news.

I like it when celebrities share their experiences with infertility and difficult pregnancies, since it’s something that many people deal with and many times it’s considered taboo or kept a secret.

- leonor on October 2nd, 2009

Kate- It depends on the amount of scar tissue that a woman has. I have severe endometriosis that has resulted in five surgeries, one of which took my left ovary and tube. My uterus is so bogged down with scar tissue that I have been told by several doctors that it might be too weak to carry a pregnancy to term. I am not married and have never tried to get pregnant, so I honestly don’t know. That’s just what I’ve been told so many times.

- Tee on October 2nd, 2009

I could tell she was pregnant at the Emmmy’s. She’s never looked this way in a form fitting dress and I didn’t think Top Chef food had caught up with her.. lol
So excited for her..Congratulations!

- jk on October 2nd, 2009

I think congratulations are in order and I wish Padma Lakshmi the best.

- Bill on October 2nd, 2009

I’m so glad for her, I hope everything goes OK

- Anon on October 3rd, 2009

Congrats to Padma! I’m sure she’ll make a great mom!

- Mommyof1miracle on October 6th, 2009

AMEN TO MARY!!! I am happy for this lady, but I am so SICK of celebrities who can’t wait to announce something like this (or don’t care if they wait or not, but yet they announce it anyway) and then ask people to “respect their privacy.” HELLO, you’re a celebrity…your privacy will never be fully respected, most likely…it’s the name of the game when you choose to be famous, and don’t expect people to all of a sudden stop keeping up with you and trying to follow up on new information about something such as this. She chooses to have the baby, she chooses to be famous, therefore she chooses to have the public eye on the pregnancy aspect of her life just like every other aspect that has made her rich and famous thus far.

- LoveMyBabies on October 7th, 2009