For Nikki Reed, giving birth to her baby boy marked a new dawn.
The Twilight alum recalled her son's birth at home, sharing that she was accompanied by midwives Abby Vidikan and Johanna L. Storey, as well as husband Ian Somerhalder, throughout the labor in June.
While sharing intimate Instagram photos from the delivery, which featured Nikki holding onto her midwives for support, the actress described the experience as "one of the most transformative nights of my life."
The labor began around midnight, with Nikki telling the Mother Daze podcast in an Aug. 24 episode, "This little boy—my water never broke. He kicked and broke my water."
The movement prompted Nikki jolt awake and tell Ian the news. The Vampire Diaries actor's reaction? Pure chaos, according to Nikki.
"I've never seen anything like it," recalled Nikki, who also shares daughter Bodhi, 5, with Ian. "He shoots up like a cartoon character and starts screaming at the top of his lungs. It must have caught him in a moment where it was like a bad dream or something, 'cause he shoots up and he starts running, races to the door and yells, 'YOUR WATER BROKE!' as he slams on all the lights."
After calling her midwife, Nikki was informed to get ready for the birth, though she didn't feel like she was yet in labor. However, her midwife explained that her contractions would soon start coming in very soon, setting in motion the birth of her son, which Nikki announced on June 29.
"A few weeks ago we welcomed our son," Nikki wrote on her Instagram Story at the time, "on what can only be described as one of the most beautiful days of my life."
Looking back on the experience, the 35-year-old said that she was grateful for the support of her midwives.
"When I think back at my birth, I cannot help but feel an almost indescribable love for the care I was given," she wrote in an Instagram post Aug. 24. "They quite literally held me up when my body needed support, and have held me in every moment of uncertainty since. My goodness, birth is just so damn beautiful, and I am eternally grateful for the incredible birth workers out there who hold the hands and hearts of women as they bring their babies into the world."
Keep reading for a closer look into Nikki's family life with Ian.
Nikki's First TikTok
Nikki and Ian pay tribute to their Twilight and Vampire Diaries characters in the actress' first TikTok, shared Jan. 18, 2024.
New Year's Eve 2023
The Vampire Diaries actor wrote on Instagram Dec. 31, "Yeahhhhhhh 2024!"
The Lost actor praises his wife for helping him get "out of a terrible business situation" that left him in the hospital. "This woman here decided that she didn't want to see her husband ruin his body/mind/spirit and pulled up her bootstraps and got down in the trenches assembling a team to get to the negotiating table to find a way out," he shared. "She devoted her life to getting me out of that mess and it almost killed her along the way. I am where I am BECAUSE of this woman. Brothers Bond Bourbon is actually here today because of this woman. I was able to start my life over because of this woman."
In December 2020, Nikki shared a sweet birthday tribute to her husband, writing, "Happy Happy birthday to this man right here. The most creative, certifiably genius, deepest thinker of anyone I have ever known with the most giving spirit."
Ian and wife Nikki celebrated spring (and being married four years) by sipping on bush chai in the rainforest in April 2019.
The actor shared this romantic photo, along with a sweet caption about his lady love on their fourth wedding anniversary in 2019. "I'm completely blown away by you...," he began, adding, "Whether dancing at our wedding, swimming across the seas, cuddling one of our furry creatures, jumping on airplanes around the world, snapping beautiful photos or sitting hand and hand looking at the ocean with a beer: we do it all together. It's been nothing short of amazing to breathe the air of the bright blue sky all over this planet with you."
This duo's love is one that clearly defies the laws of physics.
The lovebirds really like locking lips with each other!
In this throwback picture from 2015, the precious pair enjoyed some not-so-covert makeout time.
In another flashback photo—this time from 2014—the Vampire Diaries actor whisked his wife right off her feet!
During New York Fashion Week, the cute couple shared a sweet smooch in the rain.
For Father's Day, the CW star threw it back to this adorable moment where he planted a peck on Nikki's growing baby bump.
The two showed off their fit figures while out on the water in this photo. And clearly, they couldn't keep their hands off each other!
The actress loves doing acrobatics and her hubby loves supporting her (literally!).
This precious photo was posted in honor of the couple's third anniversary and we can't get over the cuteness.
Aw, how romantic. The lovebirds smooched under the setting sun on Valentine's Day.
Aren't these two so cute sharing a kiss at the Golden Globes?
The animal lovers look so cozy laying on the grass next to some beautiful horses in this snap.
The couple loves their PDA.