Kailyn Lowry is sharing insight into experiencing motherhood away from the cameras.
After confirming over the summer that she privately welcomed her fifth baby (her first with boyfriend Elijah Scott), the Teen Mom alum is explaining why she chose to keep the details of their addition close to her chest.
"I wanted to be able to tell my own story on my own terms," Kailyn—who shares son Isaac, 13, with ex Jo Rivera, son Lincoln, 9, with ex Javi Marroquin and sons Lux, 6, and Creed, 3, with ex Chris Lopez—told People on Oct. 13, "and kind of share what information I wanted to share instead of being within a contractual obligation or storyline."
That said, Kailyn—who announced she was leaving the MTV series in 2022 after 11 years—admitted she was hesitant to share details about welcoming baby Rio last year but ultimately decided to do so.
"I kind of feel like my hands are tied," she shared. "People are announcing it for me and so, at this point, I might as well just talk about it."
Noting that the couple's inner circle "all obviously knew," Kailyn shared they had an "incredible" intimate baby shower to celebrate their son.
"As chaotic as it was finding out about being pregnant again," the former reality TV star, who opened up about her struggle with depression last year, "he's been such an incredible baby that it really was a true light at the end of a really dark year for me."
Keep reading to see Kailyn's sweetest family photos.
Growing Family
In Jan. 2010, Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry gave birth to her first child, Isaac, with her then boyfriend Jo Rivera. Two years later, after Kailyn and Jo called it quits, she tied the knot with Javi Marroquin and the couple welcomed son Lincoln the following year. By July 2017, Kailyn and Javi had finalized their divorce and she was getting ready to welcome a third son, Lux, with Chris Lopez.
After's Lux's arrival in Aug. 2017, Kailyn and her trio enjoyed some fall festivities.
The kids went all out for Halloween 2017.
"This is what our Saturdays look like," she captioned the 2017 pic.
They took some time to kick back and relax during a trip to Jamaica in 2018.
Isaac, Lincoln and even Lux channeled their inner superheroes for Halloween 2018.
"Art show with my babies!!" Kailyn captioned the 2018 photo.
Isaac gave his mom a sweet smooch on the cheek in this 2018 snap.
"First day back for all the kids," Kailyn wrote alongside a family photo in 2019. "4th, kindergarten & preschool!"
"We made it through the chaos of @theluxrussell's first art show & @thelincmarshall's last!" she shared in 2019. "So many cute projects & a sign that we've hit yet another milestone. Next stop for Lincoln, KINDERGARTEN! One day, all the kids will focus & smile for a photo."
Family Love
In July 2020, Kailyn gave birth to baby Creed, her second son with Chris. Three years later, in July 2023, the reality star confirmed she'd privately welcomed a fifth child, a son named Rio, with boyfriend Elijah Scott. By early January, Kailyn announced that she gave birth to her and Elijah's twins, a boy and a girl.
Red Carpet Ready
Kailyn appears with sons Isaac, Lincoln and Lux at the 2023 Webby Awards.
The Boys
Kailyn's five eldest sons Isaac, Lincoln, Lux, Creed, and Rio appear together in November 2023.
Meet the Twins
Kailyn holds her and Elijah Scott's twins, son Verse and daughter Valley, as seen in a photo she shared in January 2024.