Tara Lipinski is reflecting on her first Mother’s Day with her eight-month-old daughter Georgie.
The Olympic figure skater and husband, Todd Kapostasy, welcomed their daughter in October via surrogate following five years of struggling with infertility.
But after the long road to get here, Tara called last month’s celebration ‘surreal.’
‘I just remember thinking it felt strange because of the past,’ the 42-year-old recalled to People. ‘And I think there was also a part of me that was thinking of all the women that are still in the wait, that Mother’s Day is still really hard for them.’
While thinking of those struggling to start their motherhood journey, Tara also cherished what she had gained this holiday.
Tara Lipinski is reflecting on her first Mother’s Day with her 8-month-old daughter Georgie; seen in 2022
The Olympic figure skater and husband, Todd Kapostasy, welcomed their daughter in October via surrogate following five years of struggling with infertility
‘So I felt those feelings,’ the athlete shared, ‘but I also just kept looking at [Georgie] and I just felt so proud of her that somehow she got here for us.’
However, in the past, Tara was less keen on many celebratory occasions.
‘For so many years during our journey, it was always holidays when certain things would happen,’ the broadcaster said. ‘It would be Todd and my anniversary or my birthday, and I found out I was having a miscarriage. “
Tara – who had lost four pregnancies before welcoming Georgie – went into detail about some of those horrific moments.
‘It would be Mother’s Day – there were two – one where I had a D&C, and on another one, I found out [something] wasn’t right,’ she explained. ‘So these holidays, for me, I would just want to not think about.’
Along with undergoing four D&C’s – a surgical procedure often performed after a miscarriage during which the cervix is dilated so that abnormal tissue can be removed from the uterine lining, per Johns Hopkins Medicine – Tara also went through eight egg retrievals and six failed IVF transfers.
The skater’s doctor eventually diagnosed her with endometriosis, and she underwent two major surgeries.
Fast-forward five years, and Tara celebrated her first Mother’s Day alongside her husband of seven years and their baby girl.
In fact, Todd took a moment to gush over his wife in an adorable Instagram post showcasing a sweet snap of Tara and Georgie.
‘I just remember thinking it felt strange because of the past,’ the 42-year-old recalled to People. ‘And I think there was also a part of me that was thinking of all the women that are still in the wait, that Mother’s Day is still really hard for them’
The gold medalist lost four pregnancies before welcoming Georgie and went through eight egg retrievals and six failed IVF transfers
‘I know Mother’s Day is reserved for all of the amazing parents out there who make endless sacrifices when their children enter this world. @taralipinski has certainly done that for Georgie over the last 7 months,’ he wrote before touching on the podcaster’s fertility journey.
‘But Tara’s role as Georgie’s mom actually began years and years ago,’ Todd noted. ‘Our daughter wouldn’t be here without Tara’s half decade of sacrifice- through all the physical and emotional trauma that people who struggle with fertility know too well (including putting up with a not-always-cooperative husband).’
He continued, ‘Tara has been the most amazing mother so far, sure. But the journey she endured to become a mother is what I’m so incredibly thankful for today. And as soon as Georgie is old enough to understand, she’ll hear about how special her mom is. We love you!’
Tara first announced the birth of her daughter on Today in October.
‘I have really incredible news to share!’ the gold medalist raved. ‘Todd and I have a baby girl, Georgie Winter, that arrived into our arms by the most beautiful surrogate.’
The film director gushed over his wife on Mother’s Day, writing on Instagram: ‘Tara has been the most amazing mother so far, sure. But the journey she endured to become a mother is what I’m so incredibly thankful for today’
Tara detailed where the little one’s moniker – Georgie Winter Lipinski Kapostasy – stemmed from.
‘I snuck in “Lipinski” as a third middle name,’ she confessed. ‘”Winter” for the nod to figure skating and it seems like we’re calling her “Gigi as a little nickname.”‘
Giving insight into her daughter’s delivery, Tara continued, ‘My doctor had me playing my favorite song and I’m bawling because I think there was just so much relief of, “Is this five-year journey over?”‘ she recalled. ‘And then immediately, the baby is out, screaming, and on my chest and we’re doing skin-to-skin and it was one of those moments like, “How did my life just change so quickly and is this a dream? Because it feels like it.”‘
And although they welcomed their baby through surrogacy, that wasn’t originally what the couple had in mind.
‘The five years were just so grueling and to be quite honest, in the beginning, surrogacy wasn’t something that I wanted,’ Tara admitted to the outlet, noting she had hoped to experience pregnancy. ‘We hit obstacle after obstacle. At a certain point, the fourth miscarriage was really traumatizing. And I think I finally gave in to the idea of surrogacy.’
The mom-of-one first announced the birth of her daughter on Today in October: ‘I have really incredible news to share! Todd and I have a baby girl, Georgie Winter, that arrived into our arms by the most beautiful surrogate’
Looking back on her journey, the broadcaster shared: ‘The five years were just so grueling and to be quite honest, in the beginning, surrogacy wasn’t something that I wanted’
These days, the mom-of-one can’t help but show off Georgie on social media, even taking a moment to shout out her other half on his first Father’s Day.
‘Happy Father’s Day to the best daddy Georgie could ever ask for,’ Tara wrote. ‘My favorite thing is just watching you look at her, your eyes light up in the most special and magical way. The laugh she brings out in you is a new laugh and it’s the best laugh that you have.’
She added that she knows ‘how important it is to grow up knowing the feeling of feeling special, completely accepted and like a princess to your dad.’
Something that Georgie will always have.
Tara conclude her touching post, ‘It’s pure love and I am so lucky knowing she will always feel that security and safety from the loving father you are. You have seamlessly stepped into the role of a funny, sweet, thoughtful, proud and most importantly caring dad. We are so grateful.’
