The name Kaia, Hawaiian for "the sea," is a tribute to the state where the couple got engaged. "We knew we wanted her name to be connected to water," Doute told Us Weekly. She added that lilies, her favorite flower, symbolize "new beginnings" and "gentle, compassionate nature," qualities she hopes will define her daughter.
The road to parenthood was far from easy. Doute previously suffered a miscarriage in 2023, a heartbreak she discussed candidly on her podcast Sex, Love, and What Else Matters. "It's terrifying," she admitted, "because you start questioning everything you did or didn't do." Her doctors reassured her that miscarriages often happen without identifiable causes.
Following that loss, Kristen and Luke turned to fertility support in 2024. After consulting with specialists, Doute underwent an intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure. "We were ready for it not to work the first time," she recalled. "But when I saw that PREGNANT on the test, I just knew it had worked." Broderick echoed the joy: "He wasn't surprised—it was more like he knew it would happen, and he was thrilled."
Leading up to the birth, Doute shared her excitement—and anxieties—about motherhood. "I'm physically miserable," she admitted in early June. "But the hardest part is the unknown of giving birth. You can plan, but she'll come when and how she wants." Broderick, meanwhile, was counting down the days: "I just want to hold her."
Once Kaia arrived, the couple's exhaustion gave way to awe. "I haven't slept or showered in two days," Doute confessed, "but none of that matters when you're holding your child. Luke is even hotter as a dad."
With their daughter now in their arms and a wedding on the horizon, Doute and Broderick are embracing their next phase. "We're overwhelmed with love and gratitude," she said. "Our lives have changed completely."
Their story—marked by loss, resilience, and now renewal—offers a moving glimpse into the real challenges and triumphs behind the glow of celebrity parenthood.
