Actress Mandy Moore has opened up about feeling a 'certain sadness' knowing her journey of having children is complete. The emotional revelation comes amid a separate controversy involving a close-knit celebrity mother's group, described as 'toxic' by former member Ashley Tisdale.
An Emotional Visit to the Doctor
The This Is Us star, aged 41, shared her intimate feelings on Instagram Stories following a routine appointment with her gynaecologist. The visit triggered unexpected emotions as she confronted the reality that she would never experience pregnancy again.
'I'm at the OBGYN getting a checkup… I'm endlessly grateful for my beautiful family AND there's a certain sadness knowing I'm done having babies and won't be pregnant again,' Moore wrote. She directly asked her followers, 'Any other mums feel this way?'
Moore shares three young children with her husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith: sons Gus, 4, and Ozzie, 3, and daughter Lou, who is 16 months old.
Speaking Out on Motherhood Later in Life
This is not the first time the actress has spoken candidly about the realities of motherhood. In July of last year, she addressed the stigma around so-called 'geriatric pregnancies' after welcoming her third child at the age of 40.
When asked if she faced opinions about having another baby at that age, she replied, 'Yes and no.' Moore explained, 'I feel like so many of my friends are having kids later in life, whether it's by choice or circumstance or biology.'
Her primary frustration, however, was aimed at the healthcare system's approach to older mothers. 'It's less about people in my life and more about the healthcare system in general. It feels like such an outdated one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to women,' she stated.
In May 2025, she celebrated her first Mother's Day as a mother of three, posting online, 'Being a mum is the single greatest gift of my life.' She acknowledged the constant demands of parenting but concluded that 'the quiet, unmistakable joy triumphs over everything else.'
The 'Toxic' Mum Group Fallout
Moore's personal reflections emerge as public attention turns to a rift within her social circle. Longtime friend and fellow actress Ashley Tisdale recently revealed she walked away from a 'toxic mum group' that once included Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor.
In a candid essay for The Cut, Tisdale detailed feeling excluded during the vulnerable postpartum months after her daughter Jupiter's birth in 2021. She noticed she wasn't invited to gatherings she later saw posted on social media by the group.
'It took me back to an unpleasant but familiar feeling I thought I'd left behind years ago,' Tisdale admitted, likening the experience to being back in high school. 'Here I was sitting alone one night after getting my daughter to bed thinking, "Maybe I'm not cool enough?"'
The situation culminated in Tisdale confronting the group via text after another snub. 'This is too high school for me and I don't want to take part in it anymore,' she wrote. She clarified that she didn't consider most of the mums 'bad people,' but the dynamic had become unhealthy for her.
Fans noted that Tisdale's essay followed her unfollowing both Moore and Duff on Instagram, though she did not name anyone directly in her piece.
Moore and Duff's Enduring Friendship
Despite the apparent fallout with Tisdale, Mandy Moore and Hilary Duff appear to remain close. The friends, who bonded after becoming mothers around the same time, have often spoken about the support they find in each other.
Their bond was strengthened last year when Moore lost her family home in wildfires, and Duff temporarily took her in. As recently as last month, the pair were seen together, sharing photos from a festive outing with their children to see a Christmas lights display, signalling their friendship remains intact.
