'I had 6 or 7 stomach surgeries': Jenna Bush Hager recalls facing traumatic ECTOPIC PREGNANCY alone
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Jenna Bush Hager spoke openly about her ectopic pregnancy and the adverse effects of undergoing repeated stomach operations. While revealing her journey to wellness, the 41-year-old Today host also welcomed CorePlay founder and dance fitness teacher Amanda Bartolomeo on the episode that aired on Tuesday, March 21.
Bush Hager remembered, "When I first met Amanda, we started talking about finding your core, and what that means for women metaphorically and obviously, literally." They realized they both had experienced ectopic pregnancies, she added. "I had one years ago before I got pregnant with Mila. I hadn't really engaged my core because I've had six or seven stomach surgeries with C-sections, appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy. And so, I had sort of lost that part of me. But also as a woman, it was a really hard thing to go through," as reported by Today.
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What is an ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized embryo develops outside of the uterus. The majority of the time, they embed in a fallopian tube, but they can also do so in the abdomen, cervix, ovary, and even a cesarean scar, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Ectopic pregnancies are not considered feasible and must be ended because they pose a risk to the mother's life and require prompt care if the place of implantation ruptures.
'The baby was in my fallopian tube'
Bush Hager previously discussed her ectopic pregnancy's sorrow with Meredith Vieira on the Today show in 2019. Bush Hager and her husband Henry Hager are the parents of Mila, 9, Poppy, 7, and Hal, 3. "It was my first pregnancy. I was so excited," she recounted. "I remember I was in California and I started to feel sick. I was with my best friend, and Henry said, 'Take [a pregnancy test]. You're with Mia. You're with your sister. Find out if you're pregnant.'" Bush Hager initially intended to keep her pregnancy a secret, but she was so thrilled to learn she was expecting that she ended up telling seven individuals. "I had no idea what an ectopic pregnancy was," she detailed. "They looked up and the baby was in my fallopian tube. My husband was out of town. My sister was in Africa. And, so, I went into emergency surgery, and I had my fallopian tube removed — and I was alone."
Who is Amanda Bartolomeo?
Amanda Bartolomeo is the founder of the exercise program CorePlay, which will "have you feeling confident & strong in your body." She defines herself as having "good energy" and believing in the strength of "my community of women." She created CorePlay, a combination of mat-based Pilates, free movement, strength training, dance cardio, and CorePlay H20, by fusing her love of dance, athletics, and personal training expertise.
Bartolomeo was born in Lubbock, Texas & raised on Long Island, NY Texas, where she developed a love of dance as a child. She has been a professional dancer for more than 15 years and has performed as a burlesque headliner, dabbled in some flamenco, and danced for the NBA NY Knicks, NHL NJ Devils (co-captain), and NLL NY Titans. However, her favorite memories are of her teaching dance overseas in India and Thailand, as per her website. She rose to prominence as a trainer in New York, Madrid, and Los Angeles.
'She loves dance cardio, and I love dancing'
Bush Hager met Amanda Bartolomeo a decade later after her own ectopic pregnancy, which created a strong connection between them. "Just reaching out and telling people around me what I went through, [made me realize] how many other women have gone through it, and that there is such a community of women that can show up for each other," the trainer stated.
She has been training with Bartolomeo for nearly two years and attributes her bodily change to her dance workouts. "I think that's the thing about women's health is that it's not just about looking skinny or looking a certain way or fitting into your jeans. It's about feeling healthy all the way around," Bush Hager stated. Bartolomeo says she helped her client find her center "in a happy, fun way" while exercising with friends. Bush Hager said, "She loves dance cardio, and I love dancing, so it's a perfect mix," as cited by Daily Mail.