Rebecca Adlington, 34, shares her heartbreaking miscarriage journey

On Nov 30, 2023

If you will have been affected by this story, you may search recommendation at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or www.tommys.org or by calling 01924 200 799

Published: 19:36, 30 November 2023 | Updated: 21:02, 30 November 2023

Rebecca Adlington, 34, shared her heart-breaking miscarriage journey on Instagram on Thursday by a candy montage of moments from when she found she was pregnant until her child Harper’s passing.

The former Olympic swimmer’s video featured her husband Andy Parsons, her daughter Summer, eight, and her son Albie, two.

In it, Rebecca holds up a optimistic being pregnant check whereas on FaceTime, two sonograms of Harper seem, and Rebecca beams at Harper’s gender reveal with Andy and their kids, and Andy kisses her abdomen.

The video’s final clips present Andy carrying Harper in a tiny basket, quite a few playing cards expressing condolences, and a candy artwork piece of Albie’s and Summer’s handprints in pink, with Harper’s in gray within the center.

Rebecca captioned her heart-breaking publish: ‘This week we attended a child service for Harper and while it was extremely emotional, it was additionally superbly performed and it’ll stick with us without end.

Rebecca Adlington, 34, shared her heart-breaking miscarriage journey on Instagram on Thursday through a sweet montage of moments from when she discovered she was pregnant till her baby Harper's passing

Rebecca Adlington, 34, shared her heart-breaking miscarriage journey on Instagram on Thursday by a candy montage of moments from when she found she was pregnant until her child Harper’s passing

The former Olympic swimmer’s video featured her husband Andy Parsons, her daughter Summer, eight, and her son Albie, two (pictured: Albie’s and Summer’s handprints subsequent to Harper’s

In it, Rebecca holds up a positive pregnancy test while on FaceTime, two sonograms of Harper appear, and Rebecca beams at Harper's gender reveal with Andy and their children, and Andy kisses her stomach

‘Even although these previous 6 weeks have been so painful, the help we’ve acquired has been wonderful.

‘Olivia, our Bereavement Midwife has been an angel. The counselling from @petalscharity has been such an enormous assist and has already made an enormous distinction after which the fixed help of @wezdadmattersuk in simply being there was unbelievable.

‘The kindness and love from our household and associates, and all of the messages/feedback we’ve acquired have meant greater than individuals will ever realise or know.

‘Thank you ❤️’.

Rebecca first introduced the lack of her daughter Harper in a devastating late miscarriage in October – after she misplaced one other baby at 12 weeks final yr.

The former aggressive swimmer, 34, took to Instagram on in October to share the horrible information.

She penned: ‘I do not actually have the phrases proper now however sadly we went for our 20 week scan this week and so they discovered no heartbeat.

‘I gave delivery to our angel, Harper on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time along with her. We will without end love her and keep in mind her at all times.’

In the caption of the Instagram post, Rebecca thanked everyone for their support, including her hospital's bereavement staff

In the caption of the Instagram publish, Rebecca thanked everybody for his or her help, together with her hospital’s bereavement employees

Rebecca captioned her post: 'This week we attended a baby service for Harper and whilst it was incredibly emotional, it was also beautifully done and it will stay with us forever'

Rebecca captioned her publish: ‘This week we attended a child service for Harper and while it was extremely emotional, it was additionally superbly performed and it’ll stick with us without end’

She continued: 'Even though these past 6 weeks have been so painful, the support we have received has been amazing'

She continued: ‘Even although these previous 6 weeks have been so painful, the help we’ve acquired has been wonderful’

One of the video's last clips show Andy carrying Harper in a tiny basket by the inside door of a hospital room

One of the video’s final clips present Andy carrying Harper in a tiny basket by the within door of a hospital room

Rebecca received numerous condolences cards, including a handmade one with 'Harper' on its cover, and a bouquet of white roses

Rebecca acquired quite a few condolences playing cards, together with a home made one with ‘Harper’ on its cowl, and a bouquet of white roses

She first announced the loss of her daughter Harper in a devastating late miscarriage in October (pictured during her pregnancy)

She first introduced the lack of her daughter Harper in a devastating late miscarriage in October (pictured throughout her being pregnant)

Rebecca took to Instagram to share the heart-breaking news via a text post on her main feed, writing: 'I don't really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20 week scan this week and they discovered no heartbeat'

Rebecca took to Instagram to share the heart-breaking information through a textual content publish on her essential feed, writing: ‘I do not actually have the phrases proper now however sadly we went for our 20 week scan this week and so they found no heartbeat’

Rebecca continued by paying tribute to employees at her native hospital, writing: ‘We cant thank the employees at Wythenshawe sufficient.’

She then paid tribute to her husband, saying that his ‘selfless help, love and assist is actually wonderful. I couldnt of (sic) survived with out you.’

‘I haven’t got the energy or phrases proper now, and do not feel able to share this information. However, I can not faux to be OK or pretend a smile. I can not have individuals ask me how being pregnant is or when I’m due as I nonetheless look pregnant.

‘We are so really heartbroken. Our lovely lady. Rest in peace, the sportswoman ended her publish.

Her publish was flooded with variety help from her associates and followers who provided messages of help.

Fellow athlete Greg Rutherford stated: ‘Sending like to you. So sorry to learn this Becky xx.’

Meanwhile fellow Olympian Jessica Ennis Hill posted: ‘Oh Becky I’m sending you and your loved ones a lot love. I’m so sorry xxxx.’

Hockey participant Sam Quek stated: ‘Becky, I do know no phrases will ease the ache… my whole coronary heart is with you all.’

She continued by paying tribute to staff at her local hospital, writing: 'We cant thank the staff at Wythenshawe enough.' She then paid tribute to her husband, saying that his 'selfless support, love and help is truly amazing'

She continued by paying tribute to employees at her native hospital, writing: ‘We cant thank the employees at Wythenshawe sufficient.’ She then paid tribute to her husband, saying that his ‘selfless help, love and assist is actually wonderful’

The sportswoman ended her post with a poignant quote: 'We have no right to ask when sorrow comes "why did this happen to me?!" Unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way'

The sportswoman ended her publish with a poignant quote: ‘We don’t have any proper to ask when sorrow comes “why did this happen to me?!” Unless we ask the identical query for each second of happiness that comes our approach’

Her post was flooded with kind support from her friends and followers who offered messages of support - including from fellow Olympians

Her publish was flooded with variety help from her associates and followers who provided messages of help – together with from fellow Olympians

The NHS states: ‘A stillbirth is when a child is born useless after 24 accomplished weeks of being pregnant. If the infant dies earlier than 24 accomplished weeks, it is often called a miscarriage or late foetal loss.’

Rebecca revealed her third being pregnant in September this yr – a yr after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage.

She captioned her social media publish: ‘Our personal little bit of magic Baby quantity 3 on the way in which’.

It comes after Rebecca stated she feels ‘accountable’ for the tragic miscarriage she suffered final yr and revealed how the heartbreak made her reluctant to attempt once more for a 3rd baby.

Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later needed to go down for the emergency surgical procedure after discovering she had miscarried the kid.

After being despatched dwelling following the surgical procedure, Rebecca needed to be readmitted to deal with sepsis, a kidney an infection and a fever.

In an interview with The Mirror, Rebecca stated: ‘Because I’d had two kids with none issues, a miscarriage by no means crossed my thoughts. I realise this may sound naïve, however I anticipated some indicators.

‘I felt actually accountable for the miscarriage, though it wasn’t my fault. I keep in mind chatting with the medical doctors and so they stated there was nothing I may have performed to stop what occurred.’

In September, Rebecca revealed she was expecting another child with husband Andy Parsons, a year after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage

In September, Rebecca revealed she was anticipating one other baby with husband Andy Parsons, a yr after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage

At the time, Rebecca admitted that she felt 'responsible' for the tragic loss of the infant, which would have been her second child with Andy

At the time, Rebecca admitted that she felt ‘accountable’ for the tragic lack of the toddler, which might have been her second baby with Andy

‘But you’ve got acquired all this strain to guard one thing – this delicate being, this treasured, particular, unbelievable child – for 9 months, and it simply appeared loopy as a result of I’ve performed it twice earlier than and been completely superb.’

Andy and Rebecca tied the knot again in August with a Cheshire ceremony, 5 months after welcoming their son.

The pair met on relationship app Bumble in 2018, with the swimmer gushing after their wedding ceremony ‘It labored out completely for us. We could not be happier’.

The couple began relationship two years after the swimmer break up from her ex husband Harry, and he or she beforehand admitted she was nervous about discovering love once more.

The couple rapidly fell in love and amenities supervisor Andy moved from Liverpool to dwell with Becky in Manchester in 2019.

Rebecca, who received two gold medals on the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012, was beforehand married to Summer’s father Harry – with the pair splitting in 2016.

As a results of Rebecca’s two gold medal win on the 2008 Summer Olympics, she turned Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988. In 2013, aged 23, she retired from all aggressive swimming.

Horrible: Last year Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later had to go down for the emergency surgery after discovering she had miscarried the child

Horrible: Last yr Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later needed to go down for the emergency surgical procedure after discovering she had miscarried the kid

Couple: The pair met on dating app Bumble in 2018, with the swimmer gushing after their wedding: 'It worked out perfectly for us. We couldn't be happier' (seen in 2022)

Couple: The pair met on relationship app Bumble in 2018, with the swimmer gushing after their wedding ceremony: ‘It labored out completely for us. We could not be happier’ (seen in 2022)

Happy: Andy and Rebecca tied the knot back in August with a Cheshire ceremony, five months after welcoming their son (pictured showing off their wedding rings)

Happy: Andy and Rebecca tied the knot again in August with a Cheshire ceremony, 5 months after welcoming their son (pictured exhibiting off their wedding ceremony rings)

Athlete: Rebecca won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012

Athlete: Rebecca received two gold medals on the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012

Family: Rebecca is pictured with her son Albie, two, who she shares with husband Andy

Family: Rebecca is pictured along with her son Albie, two, who she shares with husband Andy

If you will have been affected by this story, you may search recommendation at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or www.tommys.org or by calling 01924 200 799

What causes a miscarriage?

It is very unlikely that you’ll ever know the precise explanation for a one-off miscarriage, however most are as a result of following issues:

• ABNORMAL FETUS

The commonest explanation for miscarriages within the first couple of months is a one-off irregular improvement within the fetus, usually because of chromosome anomalies. ‘It’s not as if the infant is okay one minute and instantly dies the following,’ says Professor James Walker, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology on the University of Leeds.

‘These pregnancies fail from the outset and have been by no means destined to succeed.’ Most miscarriages like this occur by eight weeks, though bleeding might not begin till three or 4 weeks later, which is price remembering in subsequent pregnancies. ‘If a scan at eight weeks reveals a wholesome coronary heart beat, you will have a 95 per cent likelihood of a profitable being pregnant,’ says Professor Walker.

• HORMONAL FACTORS

A hormonal blip may trigger a sporadic miscarriage and by no means be an issue once more. However, a small variety of girls who’ve lengthy cycles and irregular intervals might undergo recurrent miscarriages as a result of the liner of the uterus is just too skinny, making implantation tough.

Unfortunately, hormone therapy shouldn’t be terribly profitable.

‘There was a pattern for progesterone therapy, however trials present this actually would not work,’ warns Professor Walker. ‘There is a few proof that injections of HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin, a hormone launched in early being pregnant) can assist, but it surely’s not the reply for everybody.’ The therapy have to be began as quickly because the being pregnant is confirmed, at round 4 or 5 weeks.

• AGE

For girls over 40, one in 4 girls who grow to be pregnant will miscarry. [One in four women of all ages miscarry, but these figures include women who don’t know that they are pregnant. Of women who do know that they’re pregnant, the figure is one in six. Once you’re over 40, and know that you’re pregnant, the figure rises to one in four]

• AUTO-IMMUNE BLOOD DISORDERS

Around 20 per cent of recurrent miscarriers undergo from lupus or an analogous auto-immune dysfunction that causes blood clots to kind within the creating placenta.

A easy blood check, which can must be repeated a number of occasions, can reveal whether or not or not that is the issue.’One detrimental check doesn’t imply {that a} girls is okay,’ warns Mr Roy Farquharson, advisor gynaecologist who runs an early being pregnant unit on the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Often being pregnant could be a set off for these problems, so a check needs to be performed as quickly as doable,’ he provides.But it may well simply be handled with low dose aspirin or heparin injections, which assist to skinny the blood and forestall blood clots forming – a current trial additionally confirmed that girls do equally properly on both. ”We have a 70 per cent dwell delivery price in girls handled for these problems,’ says Dr Farquharson, ‘which is great.’

• OTHER CAUSES

While uterine abnormalities, resembling fibroids, may cause a miscarriage, many ladies don’t have any issues carrying a being pregnant to time period. An incompetent cervix may trigger miscarriage at round 20 weeks.

While this may be handled by a particular sew within the cervix, trials recommend it isn’t notably profitable, though it might delay labour by a number of weeks.Gene and chromosomal abnormalities, which could be detected by blood exams, may trigger recurrent miscarriages in a small variety of {couples}.

A process often called preimplantation genetic analysis can assist. After in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), a single cell is taken from the creating embryo and examined for the gene defect. Only wholesome embryos are then changed within the womb.

It is an costly and aggravating process – and being pregnant charges are typically fairly low – however for some that is preferable to repeated miscarriages or a genetically irregular child.