Pregnant Emily Maynard Talks Battling Morning Sickness, Picking a Name & Keeping the Sex a Surprise

The former reality star dishes all the details on how she's preparing to become a mom again

Emily Maynard Johnson is about to become a mom times three. 

Officially a month away from her September due date, the former Bachelorette is in the final stage of her third pregnancy, which arrived less than a year after she gave birth to her first son, Jennings Tyler Johnson.

"I feel like I just had Jennings last week," she joked to E! News. Since appearing on the ABC reality show in 2012 and ending her engagement to contestant Jef Holm, Maynard wed Tyler Johnson in 2014 and the couple welcomed their first baby together the following year. The author also has 11-year-old daughter Ricki, her only child with her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick, a NASCAR driver who was killed in a plane crash in 2004 at 24 years old. 

Having already experienced pregnancy with both a daughter and a son, the former Bachelor and Bachelorette star wanted to keep the sex of her third baby a surprise. "I just figured we already have one of each," she told E! News. "As an adult, there are few surprises that you truly get and I just thought it would be fun and it's been really exciting. I haven't gone to my doctor and begged him to tell me yet." 

But, does she have an inkling about whether there is a baby boy or girl in that baby bump? "It changes everyday. All of my friends have their strong opinions," she added. "I have no idea. I haven't with any of my kids."

While some would think keeping the sex a surprise would give expectant parents additional anxiety, Maynard says it has done just the opposite. "It's actually taken a lot of pressure off me because I don't feel the need to go out and buy everything in pink or blue or whatever," she said. "I just had Jennings like yesterday, so I have pretty much everything I need."

Instead, the only thing Maynard is requesting is good health for her baby. "I feel like as long as it's healthy, we'll be happy and we'll take [whichever sex]."

As for her own health, the expectant mom says her history of crippling all-day morning sickness is no more. "This pregnancy has been a dream compared to my other one. It's been a lot better. My last two pregnancies, I was super, super sick...like, couldn't get out of bed sick," she revealed to E! News. "This time I've learned about Diclegis and I've gotten a lot better, so now I'm able to, you know, do life." 

Maynard, who is currently a spokeswoman for the medication, said relieving her morning sickness has made this pregnancy far more enjoyable for both mom and dad. "This pregnancy has been really special because the last two I was so sick and it was really hard for [Tyler] to see me that way."

While Maynard tried ginger ale, crackers and casual strolls to cope, the methods worked to no avail. "I would throw up on my walk," she described. For moms-to-be, Maynard says heed this simple advice. 

"Nobody ever told me this with my first two [pregnancies]—morning sickness doesn't have to be a part of pregnancy," she said. "For so long it just felt like something you have to suffer through. I learned from talking to my doctor and really trying everything out there. Whether you're sick all day like I was or you just have that little morning sickness…you don't have to suffer and that really made a difference for me and just not feeling rotten for nine months straight."

I know everyone says it, but I truly can't believe it's been a year since Jennings came into the world. In so many ways it feels like just yesterday and at the same time like he's always been here because I cant imagine our lives without him. Happy First Birthday my sweet boy!!

A video posted by Emily Maynard Johnson (@emilygmaynard) on Jul 15, 2016 at 7:01am PDT

With morning sickness behind her, Maynard is tackling a new challenge—picking a name. "My husband and I don't agree on names at all. He says my names sound like I'm naming a dog," she joked. Currently, the former reality star likes the name "Forest," but Tyler is "not on board." "We're not even going to talk about [names] until we're in the hospital and we know what it is and then we can fight it out."

 

Though this will not be their first time in the delivery room, Maynard admits she's just a little bit nervous about her future life as a family of five. "I'm a little scared [of juggling three kids.] I babysat my girlfriend's 9-week-old a couple weeks ago and Tyler came home and I was in the fetal position just thinking, 'What have we done?'" 

 

All kidding aside, the 30-year-old is ready take on this next milestone. "It's such a blessing. I'm sure there will be good days and bad days, but I'm excited."