Two-time Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has described her current pregnancy as the most challenging of her life on a mental and emotional level, following the trauma of two previous losses.
A Cautious Joy After Heartbreak
The retired swimming star, 36, announced she was expecting another child with her husband Andy Parsons in September. The social media post revealing the news expressed that the couple were feeling "cautiously overjoyed". This caution stems from profound personal tragedy.
Adlington suffered a miscarriage in August 2022 which necessitated emergency surgery. She then endured a second loss in October 2023, when a 20-week scan revealed there was no heartbeat for the baby girl they had named Harper.
Navigating Fear in a Rainbow Pregnancy
In a candid Instagram post shared on Saturday, the BBC sports pundit explained how this experience has differed. "This pregnancy has been completely different," Adlington wrote. "Not many photos, no gender reveal, no baby shower."
She clarified that this wasn't due to a lack of excitement, but rather deep-seated fear, a feeling many who have experienced a "rainbow pregnancy"—a term for a pregnancy following a loss—will recognise.
"Mentally and emotionally, this has been my hardest pregnancy," she stated.
Seeking Help and Sharing Coping Strategies
Adlington revealed she sought support through counselling with the Petals Charity, which specialises in baby loss counselling. She shared several strategies that have aided her, hoping they might help others in a similar situation.
Key advice she offered includes:
- Avoiding comparisons with past pregnancies and focusing on the differences from her losses.
- Giving the unborn baby a nickname—theirs is 'Jellytot'—to help the family bond and differentiate from her daughter Harper.
- Accepting that it is okay to admit to struggling, acknowledging that anxiety does not diminish gratitude.
"Being anxious and struggling doesn’t take away from how grateful I am to be pregnant," Adlington wrote, "it just means I’m human."
Adlington is already a mother to son Albie, with husband Andy Parsons, and a daughter, Summer, from her previous marriage to Harry Needs.
