Rebecca Adlington has said that she feels ‘responsible’ for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year.
The Olympic swimmer, 34, also revealed how the heartbreak has made her reluctant to try again for a third child.
The mother-of-two shares daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs, and son, Albie, two, with her husband Andy Parsons.
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.
After being sent home following the surgery, Rebecca had to be readmitted to treat sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever.
Sad: Rebecca Adlington has said that she feels ‘responsible’ for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year
Family: The mother-of-two shares daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs, and son, Albie, two, with her husband Andy Parsons
In an interview with The Mirror, Rebecca said: ‘Because I’d had two children without any problems, a miscarriage never crossed my mind. I realise this might sound naïve, but I expected some signs.
‘I felt really responsible for the miscarriage, even though it wasn’t my fault. I remember speaking to the doctors and they said there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened.’
‘But you’ve got all this pressure to protect something – this delicate being, this precious, special, incredible baby – for nine months, and it just seemed crazy because I’ve done it twice before and been absolutely fine.’
Rebecca added that her husband Andy is still struggling the painful aftermath of her miscarriage on a daily basis.
She recalled that he would say ‘We would be having a baby right now’, and added that the pair have dealt with the grief differently.
The former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here star discussed that she doesn’t want to put any pressure on herself to have children.
As she believes that the odds of conceiving again are against her, following an ongoing struggle with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Andy and Rebecca tied the knot back in August with a Cheshire ceremony, five months after welcoming their son.
Horrible: 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
Tough times: Rebecca added that her husband Andy is still struggling the painful aftermath of her miscarriage on a daily basis
Newlyweds: Rebecca tied the knot with husband Andy, who she met on dating app Bumble, in 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)
Sweet: She welcomed baby Albie back in March 2021, posting a snap with the newborn and her daughter
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’.
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 quickly fell in love and facilities manager Andy, 30, moved from Liverpool to live with 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 – with the pair splitting in 2016.
As a result of Rebecca’s two gold medal win at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she became Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988.
In 2013, aged 23, she retired from all competitive swimming.