Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington has bravely revealed the significant emotional challenges she is facing during her third pregnancy, following two tragic miscarriages in recent years.
A 'Small Miracle' After Heartbreaking Losses
The 36-year-old sports presenter, who announced she was expecting a "small miracle" in September, has described this experience as her hardest pregnancy yet, both mentally and emotionally. Adlington and her husband, Andy Parsons, suffered two devastating losses: a molar pregnancy at 12 weeks in 2022, requiring emergency surgery, and a second miscarriage at 20 weeks in 2023, where she had to give birth to a daughter they named Harper.
This pregnancy has been markedly different from her previous ones. The former athlete, who already has an eight-year-old daughter, Summer, from a previous marriage and a two-year-old son, Albie, with Parsons, explained she has not shared many photos, held a gender reveal, or planned a baby shower due to fear rather than a lack of excitement.
Seeking Support and Finding Coping Strategies
Adlington has turned to counselling through the charity Petals to help manage her anxiety. She shared insights from her sessions on social media, hoping they might assist others in similar situations. A key strategy has been to consciously focus on the differences between this pregnancy and her past miscarriages, rather than drawing comparisons.
"I was encouraged to focus on the differences between this pregnancy and our miscarriages, rather than the similarities," she wrote. The couple have also given their unborn child the nickname "Jellytot" to help their family bond with the baby and stop comparisons to their loss.
Adlington admitted she took a long time to acknowledge her struggle, but has learned that "it's ok to admit it's hard." She emphasised that feeling anxious does not diminish her profound gratitude for being pregnant again.
The Lingering Trauma of Past Ordeals
The champion swimmer had previously spoken openly about the trauma of her miscarriages, particularly the aftermath of losing Harper at 20 weeks. She described hating her body afterwards, as she still appeared pregnant. "It's incredibly hard. I hated my body, I fell out of love with my body," she told ITV's This Morning, expressing confusion over why a body that had won four Olympic medals and delivered two healthy children had "let her down."
When announcing her current pregnancy, Adlington said she was "cautiously overjoyed" and praised the support from the NHS Rainbow Team. She and her husband chose to share their journey to be open about their experiences and mindful of others facing similar struggles.
Her candid revelations highlight the complex emotional landscape of a rainbow pregnancy—a term for a pregnancy that follows a loss—and aim to foster greater awareness and dialogue around miscarriage and maternal mental health.
