She’s eagerly counting down the last few weeks before her baby girl arrives, and now Stacey Solomon has spoken about her plans for the big day, revealing she’s considering a home birth.
Speaking recently, the Loose Women star said she was still weighing up options, but that giving birth at home would mean that fiancé Joe Swash could be there for the entire process, as well as her mum Fiona (there are still COVID restrictions inside hospitals). What’s more, she added, it would minimise the risk of her or the baby contracting the virus.
But, according to sources, Joe is far from thrilled at the idea, especially since the family are currently renovating their £1.2million Essex home – the famous Pickle Cottage.
“Joe is really worried about the idea of a home birth,” says an insider close to the couple, who share a busy home life with their two-year-old son Rex, plus Stacey’s sons Zachary, 13, and Leighton, nine, and Joe’s son Harry, 14, from previous relationships.
“Pickle Cottage is absolute chaos at the best of times and he just doesn’t think she’s really thought this through. There’s still work to be done in the house, and Joe thinks it would be too much to also give birth there, especially if the other kids are around. He understands that Stacey is worried, but he’s told her that she’s going to be so much safer in the hands of medical professionals at hospital.”
CHECK OUT Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash's relationship timeline
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash relationship timeline - slider closer
1 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: initially meeting
The pair first met in 2010 when Stacey Solomon became Queen of the Jungle - and it was Joe Swash that crowned her on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. At the time Stacey was already in a relationship, but there were rumours of Joe liking her. It wasn't until 2015 that they fell in love. Stacey and Joe appeared on various TV shows together and Stacey even hosted on I'm A Celeb's Extra Camp alongside Joe.
2 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: their first appearance
In January 2016, the couple made their relationship official on Instagram where Stacey posted on her Story a picture of Joe with some flowers. They then made their first public appearance together in March 2016, at a Gala Screening of Game of Thrones.
3 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: TV appearances
Later on in 2016, Stacey and Joe appeared on Loose Women together where they spoke about their relationship. A couple of months later they appeared on Celebrity Juice where Joe pretended to propose and it had us all believing he had actually proposed until the episode aired on TV. They then went on to presenting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here: Extra Camp together and we all fell in love with their relationship even more.
4 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: attend events together
In 2017, after their first holiday together in Amsterdam, Stacey and Joe started attending many events together. From the Childline Ball and a Cancer Research UK charity event, to the BRITs.
5 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: primark launch
Stacey and Joe went on their first holiday with Stacey's two eldest sons in 2018. Shortly after, Stacey released her range with Primark, where Joe supported her at the launch - alongside Vicky Pattison, Katie Piper and Ashley Roberts. Joe continued his support and took to Instagram to post a photo and captioned it, "There's nothing I love more than standing by your side and watching you kindly and gracefully smashing the sh-t out of life. I love you".
6 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: move in together
In October 2018, the couple got a house and moved in together, sharing a home with Stacey's two boys. They spent their first Christmas together in their new home, along with the rest of Stacey's family.
7 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: expecting their first child together
In February 2019, Stacey and Joe took to Instagram to announce that they were expecting their first child together. Joe posted, "Have been driving myself mad thinking that she's bored senseless of me and can't stand to be awake for longer than 10 minutes of my company... So you can imagine my delight to find out that she still loves me and my company very much she's just been growing a baby. "I can't begin to describe how happy we are to be able to share this wonderful news. We've been so blessed with 3 incredible children that we've had the privilege of raising and we are forever grateful to have the chance to become parents to another wonderful child. It's all very overwhelming and emotional and we couldn't be happier right now." Stacey then posted a photo of the baby scan and wrote, "Every time I go to write anything I sob so... what he said @realjoeswashy ud83dudc9c"
8 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: become parents again
By May 2019, they became parents again but with their first son together, Rex, joining Stacey's two sons and Joe's one son.It was announced on both their Instagram accounts, "This morning. A lot earlier than planned I watched the love of my life, bring a new life into the world. We are overwhelmed, overjoyed and apprehensive of what's to come. "Mummy and baby are well and resting. We are so grateful for all of the love, support and positivity we've received over the last 8 months. I'm lost for words to describe how I'm feeling."He added, "So for now, I'm going to spend the next few days and the rest of my life falling more in love with these two humans. "I didn't think it possible but, today I witnessed the impossible. My partner, My love, my life, you are a super human. I am forever in awe. Joe X".
9 of 9Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash: engagement
Stacey and Joe got engaged on Christmas Eve 2020. Joe surprised Stacey on a walk that was special to them. The perfect end to the year.
It’s clear that Stacey has been relishing every moment of her fourth pregnancy – especially since finding out she’s expecting a long-awaited girl. And last week, she celebrated the upcoming birth in style with a pink-perfect baby shower.
But despite paying tribute to her body and her “pickle princess”, she’s also been open about her anxieties, which no doubt must be heightened since the last time she gave birth – to Rex in 2019 – when she went into labour a month early. She later confessed that she hadn’t felt ready and had wanted to “put him back in her belly”.
Look! More news!
Amanda Holden: 'We're like the Kardashians, but not as glamorous'
Speaking last week, Stacey said she was still undecided. “[Having a home birth] lessens the COVID risk,” she said. “But then there is the risk if you need to be blue-lighted in and there is an emergency. It is trying to weigh up those options. I have never considered it this much before.”
But, we’re told, Joe isn’t so torn – and he’s urging Stacey to go for a hospital birth. “She’s always so busy at home,” we’re told. “Joe just feels as thought it would be better for her to go to hospital and get some peace and quiet. He just wishes she would slow down and take it easy.”
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine – OUT NOW.