*WARNING. This article contains spoilers*
Selling Sunset fans are only now discovering the heartbreaking loss Maya Vander suffered, and are now sharing their thoughts and kind words on social media.
One of the major plotlines in the new season - that does not directly involve Christine Quinn - is Maya Vander's pregnancy.
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The real estate agent, who has been one of the main cast members since the show began in 2019, announced her pregnancy in October as production was underway for the fifth season.
The 39-year-old welcomed her son Aiden in April 2019, a month after the world’s biggest real estate reality show debuted.
She announced her second pregnancy during the second season and gave birth to her daughter Elle Madison in 2020.
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Maya has been open about her fertility struggles, revealing on the show that she had two miscarriages before giving birth to Aiden.
With both of Maya’s pregnancies being featured on Selling Sunset, fans have since made light-hearted jokes about her expecting once again in the new season.
However, Selling Sunset fans are only now discovering that Maya suffered a devastating loss not long after announcing her pregnancy.
Maya’s baby was stillborn at 38 weeks in December last year, which she shared with her followers on Instagram with a picture of the memory box containing baby clothes she took home from the hospital.
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Maya paid tribute to her baby boy, whom she named Mason, and said she decided to share the heartbreaking news because her pregnancy would be featured in the then upcoming season of Selling Sunset.
"Yesterday was the hardest day of my life," she wrote in the caption.
"I had a stillbirth at 38 weeks. I always heard of it but never imagined I'll be part of the statistics.
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"Instead of delivering a baby, I get to go home with a memory box… I do not wish this on anyone. What was a regular weekly check up turned into a nightmare that I never imagine will happen to me.
"Given I share my pregnancies in the show I knew I'll have to post about this and avoid the 'when is your due date' question.
"You will always be in our heart baby Mason."
Selling Sunset fans were heartbroken after realising Maya experienced a stillbirth. One fan tweeted: “Oh no I googled and Maya delivered her baby stillborn. Really feel for her. Such a traumatic experience.”
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Another woman shared: “I’m so sorry Maya. I can’t imagine giving birth to a stillborn baby at 38 weeks. My heart breaks for you and your family. That is gut wrenching. I hope you all are able to grieve and heal at your own time in your own way.”
A third social media user wrote: “I was so sad to hear Maya’s baby was a stillborn #SellingSunset.”
Fans also shared their sadness for Maya on Reddit, with one user writing: “The whole time I was watching my heart was just breaking for Maya. Seeing her with her baby bump, and talking about slowing down etc. I was so upset for her.”
Another person penned: “My heart was breaking and it was probably so difficult for her these past few weeks knowing that she was gonna be all over everyone’s television screens with a full term baby bump.
"Absolutely she experienced one of the worst things any human could go through. And my heart breaks for her and her family.”
Maya has since revealed she’s trying for another baby with her husband David Miller in an interview with Women’s Health.
She also explained how she’s dealing with the grieving process and how her family is coming to terms with the loss of their son and baby brother.
“The first two months afterward were a nightmare, physically and emotionally. My body was literally aching from pain," she said.
“Some moments are fine and then something will trigger me.”
She said she visits the cemetery where Mason is buried often.
Maya is now involved with the organisations PUSH pregnancy and Aaliyah in Action, both of which help families who have experienced stillbirth.
A stillbirth is when a baby is born dead after the mum reaches the 24th week of pregnancy. According to the NHS, it happens in around 1 in every 200 births in England.
For help and support with baby loss, please contact the charity Sands here.
Featured Image Credit: @themayavander/Instagram/NetflixTopics: TV And Film, Selling Sunset