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Rebecca Adlington has opened up about the two miscarriages which prompted her to seek counselling together with her husband Andy Parsons. The Olympic gold medallist has two children with her husband, as well as a daughter from a previous relationship. However, she also experienced two miscarriages - one of which required emergency surgery - before daughter Thea was born in March 2026.

The devastating loss came years after her sister Laura was diagnosed with encephalitis after the family were left fearing the worst. Adlington is now an ambassador for the Encephalitis Society and has discussed candidly both about this and about how she and her husband sought support following the pair of miscarriages, one of which occurred at 20 weeks.

"Andy was really apprehensive at first and I was like, please, can we do this together? Because I think it will help us navigate it," she told the Netmums podcast. "It was the best thing we ever did because it just gave us a way to kind of see above those dark clouds. We got to the point where we could speak without bursting into tears."

The couple underwent counselling from baby loss counselling charity Petals. "The Petals counselling gave us the ability to try again. And actually that in itself is huge," she added.

Her podcast appearance occurred just weeks before Thea arrived and Adlington discussed how the earlier losses had affected her throughout this pregnancy. "It's almost like we don't want to jinx anything... if we fully think that this child is coming, will it get taken away from us?" she said.

"So many people said to me once we got pregnant... until that baby is in your arms, you are just going to be very anxious. That belief isn't going to be there."

On March 3, Adlington announced her daughter's arrival in an Instagram post. "What a rollercoaster this whole experience has been. Three years, two miscarriages, 39 weeks carrying our magical rainbow girl, and 87 hours in hospital," she wrote.

"Thea Joy Parsons arrived on 28th February, the very same day my nana, Joyce, passed away. A true full circle moment of life. Joy is a nod to her, and we know Thea will bring us all so much joy.

"We are so incredibly happy she is home and healthy. I know so many of you are still waiting for your rainbow, and we are thinking of you, sending so much love and support your way."

In February, Adlington told The Mirror about the frightening moment during her childhood when her elder sister Laura was put in an induced coma in intensive care. At first, the family were unaware of what was causing Laura's condition and - whilst she survived following a terrifying period - the uncertainty created its own worries.

"They told us... you have got to prepare for the worst," the retired swimmer, now 37, said. "She might not make it through. And if she does pull through, we don't actually know what damage has been done."

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain and information about the condition was less widespread than it is today. "When it's associated with the brain, you don't know the damage that's been left behind," Adlington added.

"I'd never really seen my dad cry or be upset before ever. You idolise your parents so much when you're younger... your parents know everything, your parents are superhuman. And when my parents didn't have the answer and seeing how worried and upset they were, it naturally affected us."