Perrie Edwards, the 32-year-old Little Mix star, has bravely opened up about the heart-wrenching loss of her second miscarriage in 2022, describing the moment as an “out-of-body experience” that left her shattered. The singer, who shares her four-year-old son Axel with former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, also 32, revealed the devastating ordeal on Paul C. Brunson’s podcast, We Need To Talk. The miscarriage, which occurred at 24 weeks, came less than a year after Axel’s birth, plunging Perrie and Alex into unimaginable grief.
Recalling the traumatic day, Perrie described attending what was meant to be a routine 20-week scan, only to discover they were actually 22 weeks along. “It was just the worst day of my life. Like, horrendous,” she shared, her voice heavy with emotion. “I just knew something was wrong in the scan. The doctor kept going over the same thing, over and over… I’ve never experienced an out-of-body experience where everything goes in slow motion.” The devastating confirmation followed, leaving Perrie sobbing and distraught. Alex, who was recovering from an injury and struggling to drive, could barely support her as they grappled with the loss. “I couldn’t see straight,” she admitted. “We basically lost the baby at 24 weeks.”
This wasn’t Perrie’s first encounter with such heartbreak. She revealed that Axel, her “rainbow baby,” was born after an earlier miscarriage during her first pregnancy. “It was so early,” she explained. “I found out I was pregnant, but started bleeding not long after. I went to the hospital, had the scan, and they were like, ‘There’s no baby.’” While the first loss was painful, the second miscarriage hit harder. Having already begun preparing a nursery and envisioning their future with the new baby, the loss at 24 weeks was a crushing blow. “When you’re carrying at 24 weeks and you’ve planned out that room and all these things, it’s really hard,” Perrie said. The grief was compounded by the innocence of friends’ messages asking, “How’s the bump?”—unaware that there was no longer a bump to celebrate.
Despite the pain, Perrie’s love for motherhood shines through. She described her pregnancy with Axel as one of the “best times” of her life. “I loved being pregnant,” she said. “It was one of the happiest times of my life. I just love carrying babies.” Yet, the joy was tempered by anxiety, as she constantly worried about reaching key milestones like the 12-week mark. When Axel was born, the experience was “complete bliss, perfect,” a testament to her resilience and strength.
Perrie’s journey with Alex, who now plays for Turkish club Beşiktaş, began in 2016 after meeting on the celebrity dating app Raya. Their relationship, which she describes as “safe, calm, and positive,” culminated in a romantic beachside engagement in 2022. While wedding plans remain under wraps, Perrie’s gratitude for Alex’s steady presence is evident, especially in contrast to her past. Before Alex, Perrie was engaged to One Direction’s Zayn Malik, a relationship that began when she was just 19 and ended in 2015 after four years. Reflecting on that time, she admitted, “I thought everything we experienced was normal. It was my first love, so I thought, ‘This is supposed to feel a bit toxic, right?’” The breakup left her wary of love, believing she could never endure such pain again. But Alex’s calm and level-headed nature transformed her perspective, teaching her what a healthy relationship could be.
Perrie’s courage in sharing her story highlights not only her personal strength but also the often-unspoken realities of miscarriage. Through her grief, she remains a devoted mother to Axel and a beacon of hope for others navigating similar losses, proving that even in the darkest moments, love and resilience can light the way forward.