Bachelor couple and Perth locals Locky Gilbert and Irena Srbinovska have shared their heartbreaking pregnancy news.
In an interview with 7Life, Irena revealed that the couple experienced a miscarriage last month.
“We’ve been trying to get pregnant and trying to start our family and we were absolutely over the moon when we found out we were pregnant last month,” Irena told the publication.
“Unfortunately, a week later we suffered a miscarriage, and. . . it was emotional, hard and obviously heartbreaking.
“It was a very unfortunate experience and a sad time for us.”
Irena said she had shared the news with her parents and a close friend, saying that telling them the pregnancy had ended was the hardest part.
She knew something didn’t feel right when she woke in the morning and had a “slight bit of bleeding”.
Irena, who works as a nurse, thought a little bit of blood was normal during early pregnancy and things would be fine.
“We went to the hospital and they confirmed it,” she said. “It all happened so quickly, which at the time was terrible, but I’m kind of glad it happened quickly.”
This is the second time the pair have had to go through the sad ordeal.
Irena revealed that her first miscarriage happened later in the pregnancy, and said that time her recovery was highly emotional and physical.
She credited Locky for supporting her through the miscarriage, driving her to work and doing everything around the house.
Reflecting on the miscarriages, Irena said no one told her how lonely it could feel.
“Obviously other women go through it, one in four pregnancies unfortunately result in a miscarriage, but you feel alone and like you’re by yourself,” she said.
The couple purchased their first home together in Perth last year and married in Melbourne in March this year in an intimate ceremony with family and friends.
They met on season eight of The Bachelor in 2020, with Locky choosing Irena over Bella Varelis.
Irena shared her miscarriage story in support of Red Nose to help them support grieving families. Donations can be made online.
Red Nose’s services include counselling and support services for those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons, SIDS, SUDI or baby or child death.