Sadie Robertson is reflecting on a “wild” 2020 for her big family, of Duck Dynasty fame, and herself as a first-time mom-to-be.
“When I look back just at the headlines this year — we found out we had a missing aunt out in the world, there was a shooting at our house, an engagement, pregnancies — it’s been crazy,” Robertson, 23, tells Yahoo Entertainment. “Not to mention it all happening during a global pandemic, which included me getting COVID while pregnant.”
Robertson, who is expecting with husband Christian Huff, doesn’t sugarcoat her COVID-19 experience, which put her in the hospital twice.
“I have not had an easy pregnancy,” she admits. “I had COVID really, really bad. I was sick for a solid 12 days, then for about two more weeks.”
Robertson, now 18 weeks pregnant, said getting COVID on top of already suffering morning sickness throughout her pregnancy prevented her from “keeping anything down,” which was obviously “not good for the baby.” So she was admitted to the hospital and given “fluids and medicine,” staying for a day. While she “started recovering,” just two days later she had to get fluids again.
“I did have [COVID] in my chest and I was definitely sick all around, but the lack of fluids,” from gastrointestinal issues from both conditions, “was the main purpose for me being admitted,” she says.
Robertson, whose optimism shows throughout our conversation, says her baby, a girl, helped allay any worry when she was in the hospital during the difficult time.
“It was scary and it was hard, but when we did an ultrasound to make sure she was OK, she was literally dancing,” the excited mom-to-be says. “She was moving all around. She knew what we needed to see. She did great. We were so thankful for that because it was really scary. It definitely has been a wild ride, but there has also been sweetness in the middle of it.”
Robertson says battling COVID while pregnant helped put her in the “mindset of being a mom,” explaining it was powerful to “know I was kind of going through it with her — even getting through it for her. “
Robertson said that COVID swept through the Duck Dynasty clan, including her parents, Korie and Willie Robertson.
“I actually was the last one to get it in the family,” she says. “My sister got it, then my parents, then Christian and I both got it. But then it ended with us. We did not spread it, thankfully. It definitely caught like wildfire for a minute there but we stopped it.”
And now that she’s had it, she shakes her head at people she sees who aren’t wearing masks.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, you really should do that because once you have it, you do not want to get it,” she says. “And if you do get it, especially if you’re young, you’ll probably be OK. But we gotta protect those older than us — and even ourselves because it’s not healthy for anyone to get it. Everyone is struggling with COVID, especially those who have lost people from COVID. It is no joke… It definitely taught me a lot going through it. Though we’re stronger for it.”
Robertson said she was “shocked” to find out that she’s having a girl, which was documented in their gender reveal. Though Huff “secretly thought it was a girl the whole time.” And, yes, they have the baby name picked out and have shared it with “some family,” but they’re not ready to share it with the world because “people give out opinions.”
“We love having her name and love calling her by name,” she says. “It makes everything so much more real.”
Robertson will be spending the holidays with Huff’s family for the first time, explaining, “Part of marriage, you have to share your time, share your holidays.” His Florida-based family is small — just his parents and a brother — which is a contrast to the Robertson crew, which she describes as a “tornado of people. Six kids. Three of us are married. One is engaged. Two babies. Two on the way. It’s just wild. It’s going to be a totally different vibe, but I’m very excited.”
As for that engagement — 18-year-old Bella Robertson to Jacob Mayo just days ago — Robertson is excited to serve as maid of honor at the wedding, which will take place within the next year.
“I am going to help her plan her wedding,” she says.” You have to have someone who has gone through it help you out.” Though she insists on having a say in the dress she wears, “I told her, ‘Bella, if this is close to when I have the baby, you better not put me in no silk dress. You gotta give me some options,’” she laughs. “I’m excited — we’re going to go through a big year together.”
As this year winds down, Robertson is focusing on giving back through a partnership with World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization she supports. She designed a ring, called the Circle of Hope, which is crafted by women artisans in India, and anyone who donates $50 or more to the World Vision Fund gets one.
“It’s a pretty thing to wear, but it’s also reminder that you did something for someone that really needs your help,” says Robertson, who sponsors two children through the organization.
Roberson adds, “2020 has taught us a lot — that’s for sure,” but especially that “it’s so important to give. We’ve gotten a taste of being out of comfortability, while third world countries live in that daily. They live in those fears.”
And as we head into 2021, “I just hope that we’re strong because of 2020,” she says. “I hope that we stand a little taller, our faith is deeper, we love better. If anything this year, we’ve learned that life is definitely a gift. And things that are comfortable are a gift. Not everyone in the world gets to be comfortable.”
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