Rebecca Adlington has said she feels “responsible” for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year.
The 34-year-old Olympic swimmer also revealed how the heartbreak has caused her to dread trying again with a third child.
The mother of two shares daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs, and son Albie, two, with husband Andy Parsons.
Rebecca went to the hospital for her 12-week check-up and later had emergency surgery after it was discovered she had miscarried.
After being sent home after surgery, Rebecca had to be hospitalized again for treatment for sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever.
Sad: Rebecca Adlington has said she feels “responsible” for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year
Family: The mother of two has daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs, and son Albie, two, with husband Andy Parsons
In an interview with The Mirror, Rebecca said: “Having two children without any problems, it never crossed my mind that I might have a miscarriage.” I realize this might sound naive, but I expected some signs.
“I really felt responsible for the miscarriage, even though it wasn’t my fault. I remember talking to the doctors and they said there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened.”
“But you’re under all the pressure to protect something – that delicate being, that precious, special, incredible baby – for nine months and it just seemed crazy to me because I’ve done it twice before and I’ve been absolutely fine .”
Rebecca added that her husband Andy is still dealing with the painful aftermath of her miscarriage on a daily basis.
She recalled him always saying, “We were going to have a baby now,” adding that the two dealt with the grief differently.
The former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here star opened up about not wanting to put pressure on herself to have kids.
As she believes the chances of conceiving again after an ongoing battle with polycystic ovary syndrome are slim for her.
Andy and Rebecca tied the knot with a Cheshire ceremony in August, five months after welcoming their son.
Terrible: Rebecca went to the hospital for her 12-week check-up and later had to have emergency surgery after it was discovered she had miscarried
Tough times: Rebecca added that her husband Andy is still dealing with the painful aftermath of her miscarriage on a daily basis
Newlyweds: Rebecca tied the knot with husband Andy, whom she met through dating app Bumble, at a Cheshire ceremony
Co-parents: Rebecca, who won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012, was previously married to Summer’s father, Harry (pictured with Harry).
Cute: In March 2021, she gave birth to baby Albie and posted a snap with the newborn and her daughter
The couple met through dating app Bumble in 2018, and the swimmer gushed after their wedding, “It worked out perfectly for us.” We couldn’t be happier.
The couple started dating two years after the swimmer split from her ex-husband Harry, and she previously admitted she was nervous about dating again.
The couple fell in love quickly and facilities manager Andy, 30, moved from Liverpool to join Becky in Manchester in 2019.
Rebecca, who won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012, was previously married to Summer’s father Harry – the couple separated in 2016.
By winning two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Rebecca became Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988.
In 2013, at the age of 23, she retired from competitive swimming.