Giovanna Fletcher has bravely revealed that she experienced a miscarriage last year after a surprise pregnancy at the age of 40. The author and podcaster, now 41, shared this deeply personal news during the 300th episode of her popular podcast, Happy Mum Happy Baby, where she switched roles with her best friend Emma Willis to become the interviewee.
Emotional Disclosure on Podcast Milestone
Fletcher, married to McFly singer Tom Fletcher since 2012 and mother to three sons—Buzz, Buddy, and Max—disclosed that she suffered what she described as a chemical pregnancy. During the Tuesday episode, she became emotional while recounting the experience. "I had another miscarriage last year, a chemical pregnancy, well it was a surprise pregnancy," she told Willis. "I haven't talked about it publicly, but also my response to it was very different this time. Don't get me wrong, it was f**** ing hard."
Challenging the 12-Week Rule
Holding back tears, Fletcher used the platform to reflect on how miscarriage is discussed in society, particularly criticizing the conventional 12-week rule that advises couples to wait until the end of the first trimester before sharing pregnancy news. "I don't agree with the 12-week rule, you need the support of the people around you," she asserted. She emphasized the importance of allowing oneself to feel both joy and sadness from others in such situations. "So allow yourself to feel other people's joy, but also their sadness if there is a loss."
Impact on Personal Plans and Perspective
The surprise pregnancy had already begun to reshape Fletcher's plans for the year ahead, as she had reorganized her schedule in anticipation of welcoming another baby. She even felt a sense of relief at the prospect of slowing down. However, after the loss, she reconsidered her approach to life. "When the pregnancy ended, I suddenly thought well, I need to maybe change how I do things in 2026, because I need to be able to enjoy the things I am doing, rather than constantly feeling like I am just getting through the things, because they're all things I love doing," she explained. "Let's not get through, let's enjoy life."
Different Experience at Age 40
Fletcher noted that discovering she was pregnant at 40 felt markedly different from her previous pregnancies. "It did feel so different and it's a very individual thing and for me I've got three incredible kids and four is a lot of kids," she reflected. She acknowledged that while another baby would have been a blessing, she has found comfort in her current life chapter. "However, I am so comfortable with this chapter that we're in now and it felt very different to be going through a loss that isn't surrounded by desperation and that fear that it might never happen. I am not pining, but it's been a different thing to get my head around."
Legacy of Open Conversation on Motherhood
This honesty aligns with Fletcher's longstanding efforts to reshape public discourse around motherhood through her podcast, Happy Mum Happy Baby. Launched eight years ago and based on her 2017 Sunday Times bestselling book, the podcast has amassed over 30 million downloads across nearly 300 episodes, featuring guests like Davina McCall, Keira Knightley, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Topics such as birth trauma, maternal mental health, and miscarriage have been central to its appeal, fostering a supportive community for parents.
In a 2020 interview with The Sun, Fletcher highlighted the importance of openness about miscarriage. "I think it's so important that people are open about miscarriages, every time someone brings this topic of conversation up it helps so many people, because it's such a lonely thing to go through and hearing other people express themselves when you can't find the words to help people understand what you're going through is so important."
