Rebecca Adlington holds service for her late daughter Harper after miscarriage saying ‘it will stay for us forever’
REBECCA Adlington has held a service for her late daughter Harper following her late miscarriage last month,
The former Olympic swimmer, 34, shared a reel to Instagram today, which documented her painful experience.
She’s seen holding up a positive pregnancy test in one FaceTime screenshot, before posing for a family snap with her bump.
Rebecca includes her ultrasound scan in the post too.
But the video takes a turn for the worst when her husband Andy is seen holding their late child in hospital.
Cards from friends and family fill the room, and they even take Harper’s hand prints.
Rebecca and her blended family set off pink confetti at the end, as they celebrate Harper’s short life.
In her caption, the sportsperson wrote, “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.
“Even though these past 6 weeks have been so painful, the support we have received has been amazing.
“Olivia, our Bereavement Midwife has been an angel. The counselling from @petalscharity has been such a huge help and has already made a big difference and then the constant support of @wezdadmattersuk in just being there has been incredible.
“The kindness and love from our family and friends, and all the messages/comments we’ve received have meant more than people will ever realise or know. Thank you.”
Becky’s tragic loss came just a year after she miscarried a pregnancy at 12 weeks.
The swimming champion, who shares son Albie with Andrew and daughter Summer with ex-Harry Needs, said in August 2022: “On Tuesday me and Andy went to hospital for our 12 week scan only to discover we’ve had a miscarriage which resulted in emergency surgery.
“I managed to leave hospital Thursday only to be readmitted Friday.
“After a day of treating sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever I’m slowly on the mend. Long way to go but I’m in the right place.”
Rebecca has been with facilities manager Andy, 31, since 2018 after meeting on dating app Bumble.
Talking about how they met, she told HELLO! magazine: “I had only been using the app for a month and Andy was the first person I went on a date with, so I feel like I hit the jackpot.
“We chatted for a couple of weeks and the conversation flowed easily before we met at a crazy-golf course in Liverpool.
“I was really scared that he would be totally different to his picture or we might not get on, but after about five minutes I relaxed and thought: ‘This is fine.’
“It wasn’t awkward at all and we just clicked.”
Andy added: “At first I thought Becky’s profile was fake, but then I checked she was who she said she was.”
They tied the knot in 2020 and welcomed Albie a year later.