Charlotte Crosby has opened up about suffering a silent miscarriage, a devastating experience she never anticipated after two healthy pregnancies. The former Geordie Shore star, 36, discovered she was expecting her third child on March 3 and initially believed everything would proceed smoothly, given her previous successful pregnancies with daughters Alba, three, and 15-month-old Pixi.
In a candid interview, Charlotte described the heartbreaking moment when she and her fiancé, Jake Ankers, were informed by doctors that a miscarriage was likely, though it was too early to confirm. This led to an agonising two-week wait before the loss was officially confirmed. Following a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure, Charlotte developed an infection that caused excruciating pain.
Speaking for the first time about the ordeal, Charlotte told The Sun: 'We have had two successful pregnancies, so when we found out we were thrilled. Never in my wildest dreams did I think something was going to go wrong. It was probably really naive of me, because these things are common, but it just never crossed my mind after it being so plain sailing for the first two.'
Charlotte and Jake decided to book a private scan at six weeks, during which they sensed something was amiss due to a 'moment of silence' in the room. The television personality was told she might have come too early for the scan, so she held onto the hope that she had gotten her dates wrong. The family then went on holiday to Spain, where Charlotte experienced common pregnancy symptoms like nausea and breast pain.
Upon returning to the UK, the couple travelled to London for a scan with a doctor familiar from her previous pregnancies. Charlotte recounted: 'We were hopeful it was going to be better, but the room was silent again. Usually we are laughing and joking, but he was not speaking. I thought: "Oh, f**k, this really is not good." His words were: "This does not look like it is an active pregnancy. I think you have had a silent miscarriage." He suggested waiting another two weeks to confirm and then booking an operation to remove everything.'
A silent miscarriage occurs when an individual experiences no symptoms of pregnancy loss, such as heavy cramping or bleeding. Charlotte had to immediately rush to a work commitment where she was speaking on a panel, leaving no time to process the news. On the train home, she and Jake shared a 'big cry'.
After two weeks, the miscarriage was confirmed. While the D&C operation initially seemed straightforward, Charlotte developed an infection five days later. She began experiencing severe pain on a train to London and went straight to St John & Elizabeth Hospital's A&E department. She received antibiotics to treat the infection, which was caused by a buildup of blood in her tilted cervix.
Charlotte previously suffered an ectopic pregnancy in 2016, which nearly took her life while she was dating her Geordie Shore co-star Gary Beadle. That required the removal of her right fallopian tube and ovary. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, typically in the fallopian tube, making the pregnancy nonviable and endangering the mother's health.
Charlotte noted that the difference with the ectopic pregnancy was the fear she might never be able to have a baby, as she 'woke up and my organs had been removed.' This time, the miscarriage feels 'more manageable,' and she is grateful for her supportive partner and children.
She said the miscarriage has made her and Jake realise they do want another child and hope to conceive over the summer, with plans to marry in Marrakesh next year. If you have been affected by this story, visit the Miscarriage Association at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or call 01924 200 799.
