Moms all over the world have fallen hard for ABC’s The Bachelor. Motherhood can be exhausting, and curling up in cozy digs with one’s TV show of choice after a long day of wiping noses and cutting crusts off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is a great way to escape, if just for a little while, from the stress that comes along with raising children.

The bachelors and bachelorettes who have found their happily-ever-afters on the aforementioned reality show face many challenges when they bring their relationships into the real world. Despite unfavorable odds, some couples formed on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise have gotten married and had babies together. Others have decided they are better off apart, and have gone on to have successful relationships and families with other people. However they come to be, it's an indisputable fact that fans of the show can't get enough of love stories that end in cooing, cuddly bundles of former Bachelor contestant DNA.

As fans gear up for another season sure to be filled with touching moments, and uncomfortable ones, too, they can only hope that Colton Underwood's journey to find love is one that ends in love, marriage and a baby in the baby carriage! Read on for 20 former Bachelor contestants fans had no idea are moms now. 

21 Ali Fedotowsky

After fan favorite Ali Fedotowsky failed to find love on television, those rooting for her to connect with her soulmate on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette were thrilled when she and her hubby Kevin Manno got together. The pair have two darling children: a daughter, Molly and a son, Riley. At a recent Hallmark event, Fedotowsky candidly admitted that motherhood isn’t always as sweet-smelling as the roses she accepted and handed out on the hit shows that made her a star.

When asked about life as a mom, Fedotowsky told Entertainment Tonight, "Life is really hard right now. I wish someone told me how much harder two was!"  Even though the mom-of-two and her man are madly in love, parenthood can make romance a challenge. Speaking about her relationship, she also divulged, It's a lot. Our relationship suffers. I'd love to say, 'Oh, yeah, me and my husband are passionately making out on the side with our two kids,' but I'm not even sure I've made out with my husband in a really long time."

20 AshLee Frazier

AshLee Frazier vied for the affection of Sean Lowe on The Bachelor and later appeared on Bachelor in Paradise where she and former Bachelorette contestant, Graham Bunn, hit it off and had a brief relationship before parting ways. Frazier has also been linked to two-time Bachelor star Brad Womack.

In March of 2017, the former reality star wed Aaron Williams. The two welcomed a baby girl, Navy Lee, to the world in September of 2018. Soon after her baby’s arrival, the new mama told People magazine, “Her name came from my dad, Bruce Lee. When I was adopted my parents changed my name from Ashley to AshLee. It was important to them to make sure I felt [a] part of the family. Aaron and I wanted to continue that tradition...We are madly in love!”

19 Catherine Lowe

Catherine Lowe quickly became a fan favorite when she competed for Sean Lowe's final rose on season 17 of The Bachelor. It didn't take long for Lowe to become completely taken with her optimism, her sense of humor and her zest for life. Today, the pair is considered one of the most beloved Bachelor couples of all time.

America rejoiced when Sean gave Catherine his coveted final rose and asked for her hand in marriage. The two wed on television in a ceremony that the new bride dubbed "grown sexy." Since tying the knot, the adorable duo have welcomed two adorable little boys, Samuel and Isaiah, to the world. Speaking about her firstborn to Mother.ly, the mother-of-two shared, "Samuel has been my buddy since I found out we were pregnant and my heart has grown twice in size."

18 Jade Roper

Jade Roper Tolbert competed for the love of “Prince Farming” (Chris Soules) on season 19 of The Bachelor. Her hubby, Tanner Tolbert, first gained fame on season 11 of The Bachelorette where he provided hilarious commentary on the men vying for the heart of Kaitlyn Bristowe. After being eliminated from their respective seasons, Jade and Tanner appeared on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise in the hopes of finding love the second time around...and they did!

The two were married in a live television event and announced soon afterwards that they were expecting a baby. Their daughter Emerson (Emmy) Avery arrived in August of 2017. Speaking about motherhood, Jade has said, “I love being a mom. We’ve been enjoying just being new parents and every new thing is so exciting for us. She’s a little treasure.”

17 Carly Waddell

Carly Waddell first appeared on season 19 of The Bachelor. After things didn't work out, she signed up to be a contestant on season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise in the hopes that things would go better the second time around. Waddell was blindsided when Kirk DeWindt ended their seemingly perfect new romance out of the blue, and she returned for season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise with a guarded heart.

Evan Bass was spurned by bachelorette JoJo Fletcher, and agreed to appear on Bachelor in Paradise with high hopes. While Waddell took awhile to warm up to Bass, his persistence paid off. Soon after the show ended, the two were married and announced they had a baby on the way. They welcomed their lovely daughter Isabella Evelyn to the world in February of 2018. Soon after their baby's arrival, Evan shared in a statement, "I cried a lot during the birth! We are smitten and cannot stop kissing, cuddling and adoring her." 

16 Bekah Martinez

Bekah Martinez is a mom-to-be! The expecting mama was one of the youngest women to compete for the love of Arie Luyendyk Jr. on season 22 of The Bachelor. She was the favorite of many fans, but Arie’s heart led him in a different direction. Martinez began dating Grayston Leonard soon after leaving the show brokenhearted, and was shocked when she learned she had a bun in her oven.

Martinez recently took to YouTube to answer questions Bachelor Nation had about her pregnancy. She revealed that the pregnancy was “unplanned” and went on to admit, “This wasn’t in the plan so it wasn’t right away like a ‘Oh my God yes! This is so exciting, we’re going to have a baby!’ It was like ‘Oh wow…’”

The reality star has also shared that her impending arrival is “literally a dream come true.” She continued, “I’ve gone back and forth on the idea of marriage and relationships, but I’ve always felt sure that I want to be a mom.” Her baby is due some time in February of 2019.

15 Molly Mesnick

Molly Mesnick was originally the runner-up on season 13 of The Bachelor. Jason Mesnick gave his final rose to Melissa Rycroft and asked her to be his wife, but ended the engagement on the After the Final Rose special a few months later. After ending things with Rycroft, Mesnick admitted that he still had feelings for Molly. The rest is Bachelor baby history.

Molly agreed to give Mesnick a second chance. They got married on live television in March of 2010, making her a stepmom to Ty, her new hubby’s son from a previous relationship. The pair welcomed daughter Riley Anne to the world in March of 2013.

14 Desiree Hartsock

Desiree Hartsock starred on season 9 of The Bachelorette following Sean Lowe's heartbreaking decision to send her home after hometown dates on his season of The Bachelor. Her journey was a rocky one, but she eventually found her happily ever after with Chris Siegfried.

The two were married in January of 2015, and welcomed their first child, son Asher Wrigley, to the world in October of 2016. The couple took to social media in July of 2018 to announce that they are expecting their second child together. Speaking about how her firstborn is responding to her impending arrival, Hartsock shared, “We’ll say, ‘Where’s the baby?’ And he’ll point to my stomach, but I still don’t think he understands, but he’s doing it.”

13 Trista Sutter

Trista Sutter was the very first star of The Bachelorette, and began her journey to find love in January of 2003. She set the bar high for those who would follow when she met the love of her life, firefighter Ryan Sutter. She married him on national television in December of 2003, proving to the world that lasting love is attainable, even if it is found in an unconventional way. 

Trista and Ryan have been married for 15 years and have 2 beautiful children together: a daughter, Blakesley and a son, Maxwell. In 2015, Sutter spoke to Today.com about the not-so-traditional way she found her man. She shared, “I tell everyone, if you are truly looking for the love of your life, then go for it! Why do you have to meet someone on a blind date, or through church, or through friends or through work? Why is that right and meeting on television is wrong?”

12 Deanna Stagliano

Deanna Stagliano starred on season 4 of The Bachelorette after being rejected on the season 11's Bachelor finale by Brad Womack. She gave her final rose to snowboarder Jesse Csincsak, but their romance didn’t last. She then met and fell in love with Stephen Stagliano, Bachelor alum Michael Stagliano’s twin brother, through connections made on the show. The two were married in 2012, and have two children together: a daughter, Addison Marie and a son, Austin.

Speaking about how hard it is to think about her kids growing up, the mother-of-two told People, “I don’t know what it is about having a boy...I guess it’s because I’m the woman in his eyes right now, and sometimes I think about when he has his first love, like, I will never hold that part of him. Right now I’m his first love...so when he gets married I will not longer be that part and it has this mixed emotion. I will cry.”

11 Ashley Rosenbaum

Ashley Hebert Rosenbaum was Brad Womack's third runner up on season 15 of The Bachelor, and was then selected to star on season 7 of The Bachelorette. Her journey on the show was fraught with emotion, but she eventually fell hard for J.P. Rosenbaum and gave him her final rose. The two were married in a televised event in December of 2012. Since tying the knot, they have welcomed two children to the world: a son named Fordham (Ford) and a daughter named Essex (Essie).

Speaking about motherhood and the challenges it brings, Rosenbaum told Us Weekly, “It’s honestly so hard. When I had my first son I was that mom, [I thought] ‘I have to breastfeed, no formula, he has to be stimulated’...his doctor said to me, ‘Ashley, give in a little, you’re trying to [push] yourself and in the end your kids are going to see that stress on you.’ It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard parenting advice-wise. Just give a little, let yourself be human, let yourself have hard days and good days, let yourself be.”

10 Emily Maynard

Emily Maynard Johnson accepted the final rose and a proposal from bachelor Brad Womack on season 15 of The Bachelor, but their relationship didn’t last. She then agreed to star on season 8 of The Bachelorette in the hopes of finding a man to join her in the beautiful life she shared with her daughter Ricki. At the end of her season, she became engaged to Jef Holm, but their love was short-lived.

Emily eventually met and married her perfect match Tyler Johnson. After becoming man and wife, the two welcomed three boys within 2.5 years! Speaking about the craziness, the mother-of-four told Us Weekly, “I’ve always wanted a lot of kids. I made it clear on our first day, ‘Listen, my clock’s ticking and I’m ready to get on this!’"

9 Sara Brice

Sarah Brice was given the final rose by Charlie O’Connell on season 7 of The Bachelor in 2005. He didn’t propose on the finale, but the two dated for two years following the end of the show. They broke up, then got back together, and eventually called it quits in 2010.

Brice married Brandt Calver in 2012, and the two now have three adorable sons together. She recently captioned an IG post featuring herself and her three boys posing together on the beach at sunset, “If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if these boys were triplets, I could pay for parking at SeaWorld." 

8 Lauren Burnham

Lauren Burnham was the runner up on season 22 of The Bachelor. Arie Luyendyk Jr. originally proposed to Becca Kufrin, but then changed his mind and asked Burnham for a second chance. She was willing to give things another shot, and Luyendyk popped the question on the After the Final Rose special. They announced on The View this past May that they plan to be married on January 12, 2019 in Maui, Hawaii.

Us Weekly broke the news this past November that Lauren had a bachelor bun in her oven. She told the mag, “We weren’t trying, but we are so excited...The first thing we thought of was, ‘Oh my gosh. Our wedding. Obviously, we’re not married yet, but this is the way it happened...and this is probably the way it was meant to happen!”

7 Melissa Rycroft

Melissa Rycroft received the final rose on Jason Mesnick’s season of The Bachelor, but was jilted soon afterwards when he had a change of heart and reneged his proposal, opting instead to start a new relationship with his season's runner-up Molly Malaney. Rycroft didn’t mope around for too long. Instead, she used her dance background to land a spot on season 15 of Dancing With the Stars and went on to win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.

The haute hoofer married Tye Strickland in 2009. Rycroft and Strickland have three children together: Ava Grace, Beckett Thomas and Cayson Jack. In a candid interview, the mother-of-three recently admitted to People, “Every child is different. I took too long realizing that [my kids] need to be parented differently...I could’ve saved myself a lot of frustration and heartbreak.”

6 Ashley Salter

Ashley Salter appeared on Chris Soules’ season of The Bachelor followed by a stint on Bachelor in Paradise. She and her fiance Austin Brannen welcomed their first child, a son named Brooks Hartman Brannen, to the world in April of 2016.

Soon after her baby boy was born, Salter took to social media to announce his arrival. She captioned a sweet shot of her brand new family of three, “Long stormy night brings a beautiful angel this morning.” Bachelor host Chris Harrison was thrilled to hear the news of Salter’s new bundle of joy. He has admitted that she is “one of my favorite women to have ever been on this show.”

5 Jillian Harris

Jillian Harris competed on Jason Mesnick’s season of The Bachelor, then went on to star in season 5 of The Bachelorette. She and final rose recipient Ed Swiderski got engaged at the end of her season, but their love didn’t last. Harris eventually put her interior designer chops to work on HGTV’s Love It or List It.

The Canadian beauty is now engaged to Justin Pasutto. She and her man have two adorable children together: a son, Leo and a daughter, Annie. Speaking about being a mother-of-two, Harris has said, “I have no complaints. Annie started smiling a couple of days ago and it’s amazing. And Leo is a great big brother. He just started asking to hold her, and there have been very few moments of jealousy.”

4 Shayne Lamas

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Shayne Lamas received the final rose on Matt Grant’s season of The Bachelor. Like many other couples who meet on the show, the two eventually parted ways to the chagrin of fans everywhere who hoped their love would last. Lamas went on to marry Nik Richie.

Richie and Lamas have a daughter, Press and a son, Lyon together. After Lamas went through a painful loss in 2014, her son arrived via a surrogate, who also happens to be her stepmother! Soon after little Lyon’s arrival, a source close to the reality star revealed, “The new bundle of joy arrived via water birth. Everyone is happy and healthy.”

2 Jen Schefft

Jen Schefft got the final rose on Andrew Firestone’s season of The Bachelor, but later broke off the engagement. She went on to star on season 2 of The Bachelorette, and made history when she decided that she didn’t want to give her final rose to any of the men vying for her heart on the show.

Schefft has since married Joe Waterman, and the pair have two daughters, Mae and Charlotte, together. Speaking about leaving life in the spotlight behind, the mother-of-two has said, “It was fun being in the spotlight, but it was also very challenging in that I hated hearing what other people had to say about me.”