Erika Kristensen Lee: Preparing for Baby, Learning to Pause
Host and newscaster Erika Kristensen Lee is enjoying her break as she awaits the arrival of her baby
For Erika Kristensen Lee, life has recently asked her to pause—and she’s learning to listen.
Currently on a well-deserved break as she prepares for the arrival of her first child, Erika is embracing a season that feels both unfamiliar and deeply grounding. The usually fast-paced host and anchor of Bilyonaryo News Channel is discovering that some of life’s most meaningful moments happen when everything else slows down.
When Erika and her husband, Ethan Lee, found out they were expecting just a few months after getting married, joy came hand in hand with disbelief.
“We honestly didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” Erika shares. “Everything unfolded at once. We even had to cancel our honeymoon to Europe because I had just found out I was pregnant and my doctor advised me to stay put for monitoring.”
While the change in plans was unexpected, it came with clarity.
“It felt like life gently redirecting us,” she says. “There was no better timing, even if it didn’t look the way we imagined. Hopefully next year, we’ll be visiting family—with a baby in tow,” she adds with a laugh.
Learning to Move at a Different Pace
As the couple prepares to move into a new home suited for their growing family, Erika has also had to make internal adjustments—particularly with how she approaches work and rest.
“I started listening to my body more,” she says. “I became more intentional about boundaries and rest. It wasn’t just about me anymore.”
Letting go of control, she admits, was one of the hardest lessons.
“So much about pregnancy and motherhood is out of your hands. Once I accepted that, it changed how I moved through my days. I learned to slow down—not just physically, but mentally.”
That shift extended to asking for help, something Erika says didn’t come naturally.
“I had to learn that I don’t have to do everything on my own—and that it’s okay to accept support.”
A Partner Who Shows Up
Throughout the journey, Erika credits Ethan for being her steady anchor, even as he juggled his own demanding schedule with the Maharlika Football Club and the 7s Super League.
“What stood out to me was how sacrificial he’s been,” she says. “He adjusted without hesitation, always putting me and our growing family first. Seeing him step into this role so naturally made me feel secure about the life we’re building.”
It Really Does Take a Village
If motherhood has reinforced one truth for Erika, it’s that support matters.
From relatives flying in from Denmark to advice from her titas to cousins helping set up the nursery, she has felt deeply held by her community.
“While there’s so much joy, there’s also a lot to learn, which can be very overwhelming, but having that strong support made everything feel lighter,” she said.
“My mom friends shared practical tips, connected me to doctors, and just reminded me that I’m not alone in this,” she says. “I’ve also felt encouraged by my colleagues at work and grateful to the brands that helped make this transition smoother. Overall, I feel truly blessed to have such a strong circle around us as we step into parenthood.”
She adds, “These are the moments when I miss my mom the most. But I know she’s pulling some strings up there for us.”
When Motherhood Becomes Real
Like many first-time moms, Erika recalls the moment everything shifted emotionally.
“The first time I felt her move, I froze,” she says. “I thought it was just gas bubbles at first. Then it hit me—this is real.”
From then on, she found herself attuned to every kick, hiccup, and pause.
“That’s when I realized I was already worrying, already protecting. I was already a mom.”
While the first trimester came with uncertainty and endless questions, learning helped ground her.
“Reading books, hearing stories, and gaining knowledge about pregnancy and parenthood also made me feel more prepared and confident,” she said. “The more I learned, the calmer and more ready I felt to welcome her into the world.“
Rest, Presence, and Preparation
Now on leave, Erika is savoring a rare kind of stillness.
“For so long, I was always thinking about what’s next professionally,” she reflects. “Now, I just want to be present.”
“I’m excited to go back to work eventually, but for now, I plan to enjoy the quiet moments with my family. Bonding, learning my child, growing with her, establishing new routines, and just being there with her. I want to truly savor this season.”
Her days now are filled with nourishing food, tea, and broth, rest, therapy, and support from a core therapist and doula.
“I truly believe you can’t pour from an empty cup,” she says. “Taking care of myself is part of taking care of my child.”
Looking Ahead with Intention
As she and Ethan imagine the future, their hopes are simple yet intentional.
“We want a family built on stability, growth, and love,” Erika says. “Yes, we think about education, health, and the future—but also about everyday moments. The ordinary days matter.”
More than anything, they hope to raise a child grounded in values.
“If I could teach her one thing early on, it would be adaptability,” Erika shares. “Life is unpredictable. Being able to bend without breaking is such an important skill.”
She recalls her mother’s words with quiet conviction.
“Life is what you make it. It’s not about chasing happiness all the time, but building something meaningful with what you have. Feeling the full range of emotions—the good and the hard—is how we grow.”
In this slower season, Erika Kristensen Lee is learning that sometimes, the most powerful progress comes not from moving faster—but from pausing long enough to truly feel where you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Letting go of control. Erika admits that accepting uncertainty—and asking for help—didn’t come naturally. Learning that she didn’t have to do everything on her own became one of the most meaningful shifts of her pregnancy journey.
Feeling her baby move for the first time. What she initially thought were gas bubbles quickly became a powerful emotional realization—one that marked the beginning of her instinct to protect, worry, and nurture.
Erika focuses on nourishment and support—healthy food, tea and broth, proper rest, therapy, and guidance from a core therapist and doula. She believes caring for herself is essential to caring for her child.
More stories of new parents
Mikael Daez & Megan Young: The Beautiful Becoming of a Family
Cedrick Juan: The Role That Changed Everything
Valerie Weigmann: Embracing Her Journey As A New Mom
