Former Love Island star Olivia Bowen has bravely shared her emotional experience of discovering a 'vanishing twin' during her pregnancy journey with husband Alex Bowen.
The 29-year-old reality TV personality revealed that while expecting her son Abel, now 15 months old, doctors initially detected two heartbeats before one mysteriously disappeared - a phenomenon medically known as 'vanishing twin syndrome'.
The Shocking Discovery
"It was the most bizarre, heartbreaking thing," Olivia confessed. During an early scan, medical professionals identified what appeared to be twins, only to find one fetus had vanished by the next examination.
This relatively common but rarely discussed occurrence affects about 15-20% of multifetal pregnancies, where one embryo spontaneously absorbs into the uterine wall, often before the mother even realizes she was carrying twins.
Emotional Aftermath
The television personality described mixed emotions: "You feel guilty for grieving when you've still got a healthy baby growing, but you can't help that sadness." She emphasized the importance of acknowledging this unique form of pregnancy loss.
Olivia hopes that by sharing her story, she can help break the silence around vanishing twin syndrome and support others experiencing similar situations. "Nobody talks about it, but so many women go through this," she noted.
Celebrating Her Rainbow Baby
Despite the emotional rollercoaster, Olivia and Alex welcomed their "rainbow baby" Abel in June 2022. The couple, who met on the 2016 series of Love Island, have been open about their parenting journey, frequently sharing heartwarming family moments with their 1.3 million Instagram followers.
Olivia's candid revelation highlights the complex emotional landscape of pregnancy and the importance of supporting women through all aspects of reproductive health.
