Singer calls her son Axel a “rainbow baby” after revealing two heartbreaking pregnancy losses

Former Little Mix star Perrie Edwards has spoken publicly for the first time about her pain of losing two pregnancies, describing one late miscarriage at 24 weeks as the “worst day of my life”.

The 32-year-old singer, who rose to fame after auditioning for The X Factor in 2011 and went on to become one of the UK’s most recognisable pop stars, revealed her heartbreak during an emotional appearance on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson.

Edwards explained that her first miscarriage happened before the birth of her son Axel in 2021. It occurred very early in the pregnancy, leaving her feeling confused and devastated.

“I remember finding out I was pregnant. Obviously, I started bleeding not long after, and I went to hospital and I had the scan and they were like, ‘There’s no baby’,” she recalled.

Her shock was compounded by loneliness. “I remember being on my own at the appointments,” she said, describing how she initially questioned if she had imagined the whole experience.

Her son Axel, who she calls her “rainbow baby” – a term for a child born after pregnancy loss – arrived in 2021, bringing her and her fiancé, former England footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, immense joy.

But less than a year later, Edwards found herself pregnant again while preparing for Little Mix’s final tour. She said she had suspected she was expecting due to severe pregnancy symptoms. “Every symptom under the sun,” she explained. “I was like, ‘I think I’m pregnant.’”

This time, her pregnancy progressed well into the second trimester. Edwards and Oxlade-Chamberlain began preparing a nursery and planning for their baby’s arrival. Then, at 24 weeks, tragedy struck.

Doctors told the couple that their baby no longer had a heartbeat. “It was the worst day of my life,” Edwards said quietly, describing how the grief was magnified by how far along she was in her pregnancy.

“It’s weird, because the first time it happened, I think because it was so early, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s hard.’ But I think when you’re 24 weeks and you’ve planned out their room and all these things, it’s really hard. And nobody knows other than immediate friends and family,” she added.

The singer’s revelation sheds light on a private struggle endured by many parents, yet rarely spoken about so openly. Edwards said her experience of late miscarriage left her profoundly shaken.

Throughout her career, Edwards has been known for her powerhouse vocals and chart-topping hits with Little Mix, including Black Magic, Shout Out To My Ex and Wings. The group, formed on The X Factor, went on to become one of the most successful girl bands in the world before announcing a hiatus in 2022.

Her honesty about pregnancy loss adds her voice to the growing number of public figures who are breaking taboos around the subject. The singer stressed how much support from her close circle meant during the darkest times, while highlighting the silent grief many families endure.

For Edwards, Axel remains her miracle child, born after heartbreak and now the centre of her world. But her candid reflections reveal the pain that lives beneath the surface, and the enduring impact of losing two pregnancies, especially the baby she had carried for more than five months.