David Henrie and wife Maria Cahill announce the birth of daughter Pia

20 March 2019, 17:46

David Henrie and Maria Cahill daughter Pia
Picture: David Henrie/Instagram
Nicky Idika

By Nicky Idika

The Wizards of Waverly Place alum shared the news of his daughter's birth and an emotional post revealing his wife's previous miscarriages.

David Henrie and his wife Maria have welcomed their first child, a daughter named Pia. David and Maria announced they were expecting a child back in September 2018.

The 29-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place star opened up about the birth of Pia and the couple's heartbreaking miscarriages in an emotional Instagram post.

David shared a photo on Instagram of himself holding Pia alongside Maria on a hospital bed.

Not only did David open up about Maria suffering multiple miscarriages, he also explained the significance of the baby's full name, which is Pia Philomena Francesca Henrie.

View this post on Instagram

Today is a particularly special day for Maria and I... and it’s special because in order to get to where we are today, with the joy of our newborn in our arms, my wife and I went through trials. I felt compelled to share this because I had no clue just how difficult trying to start a family could be. See, Pia Philomena Francesca Henrie has brothers and sisters... Maria and I suffered three miscarriages before finally being able to carry Pia to full term. While it was insanely difficult recovering from miscarriage after miscarriage, we knew if we were ever going to be able to hold a baby of our own in our arms that we must not let the tragedy affect our marriage, but rather grow closer together! We stayed faithful to that conviction and had a little help from @franciscus. The reason Pia’s middle name is Francesca is because I personally asked pope Francis to pray for Maria and I to have a baby. He took our hands, held them together, said a special blessing, then looked up and told me not to worry that a baby would be coming - that was pretty much exactly nine months ago. For all those who are struggling #pray #hope and #dontworry !! Always.

A post shared by David Henrie (@davidhenrie) on

"I felt compelled to share this because I had no clue just how difficult trying to start a family could be. See, Pia Philomena Francesca Henrie has brothers and sisters... Maria and I suffered three miscarriages before finally being able to carry Pia to full term," David wrote.

"While it was insanely difficult recovering from miscarriage after miscarriage, we knew if we were ever going to be able to hold a baby of our own in our arms that we must not let the tragedy affect our marriage, but rather grow closer together!"

David also explained that Pia's middle name was Francesca, after Pope Francis who he met last year and asked "to pray for Maria and I to have a baby."

In an Instagram Stories post, David also noted Maria's "grace and strength" in the natural delivery of their daughter.

David Henrie and wife Maria and baby
David Henrie and wife Maria and baby. Picture: David Henrie/Instagram Stories

Thousands of well-wishers congratulated David and Maria on Instagram, including Wizards alum Greg Sulkin who wrote: "beyond happy for the best man I know. Love you bro forever".

David and Maria tied the knot back in April 2017. The couple will celebrate their 2 year wedding anniversary in April, along with baby Pia.