reality tv

Selling Sunset's Maya Vander lost her baby at 38 weeks. She just welcomed her 'miracle' child.

Maya Vander always kept it real on Selling Sunset before quitting her full-time role on the reality series after season five

At the time, the Israeli-American real estate agent and broker was relocating to Miami to nest in preparation for her third child.

But on December 10, 2021, Maya's son Mason was delivered stillborn at 38 weeks. 

Adding to their trauma, Vander and her husband David Miller then experienced a miscarriage in 2022.

Watch: A tribute to the babies we've lost. Post continues after video.


Video via Mamamia

Now far from the reality TV cameras and living an idyllic life in Miami, where she heads up The Maya Vander Group, the matter-of-fact star has gone public with some incredible news. 

In a "miracle" turn of events, the 41-year-old and her husband are celebrating the arrival of their new baby girl, Emma Reign.

"People think it's crazy but again, it's really easy to judge from the outside."

Fans of Selling Sunset would've seen news of Maya's then-impending arrival announced on season six of the series via a FaceTime call with The Oppenheim Group's star agents – strategy, on Maya's part.

"I didn't know how this pregnancy would go and things obviously happen, I learned, unfortunately. I decided to just keep it quiet mostly, I didn't want to do just anything, and I wanted to just make sure everything is going well and the baby's healthy and the delivery is healthy and everything is fine before going public about it all," she told People

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By the time Maya's pregnancy announcement had gone to air, she'd already secretly given birth to Emma, who was cautiously induced at 37 weeks.

Already a mum to daughter Elle, three, and son Aiden, four, Maya admitted she still yearned for another child after losing Mason, a feeling she said people called her "crazy" for.

"I was pregnant technically seven times, between miscarriages and unfortunately the stillbirth, which is really the next level of a loss, and I have three kids to show for it," she explained. 

"I knew that once I lost my son that I wanted to get pregnant as soon as I can. People think it's crazy but again, it's really easy to judge from the outside," she continued.

"When I lost my son Mason, I was mentally prepared to have three kids, and it was very difficult for me to just let go of that. I could have said, 'I have a boy and a girl. They're healthy and happy. Let me just move on and forget about it.'

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"She's my miracle baby."

"It's just nice to cuddle with her while she's so little," she said of the new arrival. 

"I really feel like she's my miracle baby."

This time, she said she did absolutely everything possible, as did her medical team, to ensure a healthy pregnancy, a positive hospital experience, and a safe birth for both mum and baby.

Now content and relieved in her baby bubble, Maya did admit she'd be open to another baby, despite all she's gone through to get to where she is today. But she's a realist and knows the risks and unknowns that entails.

"If I knew for a fact that I'm not gonna have another miscarriage, or God forbid, stillbirth and I was younger, maybe I would even go for a fourth, which I never imagined in my life I would say that," she said – though she added that there's something very special about her trio. 

"I wanted three kids and now it's completed, and I'm very thankful."

Her pregnancy with Mason was a lively one. Her little man loved to kick and wriggle, so when his movements waned, she knew something was wrong. At 38 weeks, her doctor couldn't find a heartbeat. 

"They rushed me to an ultrasound, which confirmed that I lost my baby. I was in complete shock. I called my husband hysterical, and the doctors were devastated as well," she told Parents.com.

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To add to Maya's devastation, David was unable to be in the room while she delivered Mason, because he'd tested positive for Covid.

"Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. I had a stillbirth at 38 weeks," she shared on Instagram on December 11, 2021, a day after losing Mason.

"I always heard of it but never imagined I’ll be part of the statistics. Instead of delivering a baby, I get to go home with a memory box... I do not wish this on anyone. What was a regular weekly checkup turned into a nightmare that I never imagine will happen to me. Given I share my pregnancies in the show I knew I'll have to post about this and avoid the 'when is your due date?' question. You will always be in our heart, baby Mason."

Listen to No Filter, where Mia Freedman talks about pregnancy loss and how to cope. Post continues below.


Now in 2023, Maya's cup is full – but that's not to say she doesn't crave her baby boy each and every day. 

"It was a big hole in my heart, which I still have that hole but I feel like with my third baby now, I just have a better experience in the hospital, a better ending and I'm happy," she told People

"I wanted three kids and now it’s completed, and I'm very thankful."

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637. 

You can download Never Forgotten: Stories of love, loss and healing after miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death for free here.

Feature image: Netflix/Instagram.