Kelsey Parker has reflected on the ‘harrowing’ care she received after the stillbirth of her son Phoenix.
The star, 35, has two children, Aurelia, six, Bodhi, four, with the late Tom Parker from The Wanted, who died age 33 from a rare, aggressive brain tumor (glioblastoma) in 2022.
Last June she suffered further heartbreak when her unborn baby – her first with her new boyfriend Will Lindsay – was stillborn.
Kelsey lost her son Phoenix at 39 weeks when he was stillborn at home before she was taken to a maternity ward which added to the trauma of the experience.
After the stillbirth she was placed on a ward with new mums and their newborns where she said she received little kindness or understanding from staff.
Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday she said: ‘I didn’t feel much kindness. The people who had to look after me, their jaws were on the floor and they didn’t know what to do.
Kelsey Parker has reflected on the ‘harrowing’ care she received after the stillbirth of her son Phoenix
Last June she suffered heartbreak when her unborn baby – her first with her new boyfriend Will Lindsay – was stillborn
‘I took time off from work afterwards as I needed time to process what I went through. I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone. It was absolutely horrendous and harrowing. I can’t even go into what that loss felt like as it’s too painful for me.
‘On my own podcast I hear stories of birth trauma all the time and so many of us with birth are not heard or frightened to have a voice in the birth process.’
She also spoke more widely of the grief she is still dealing with and how she dealt with the loss whilst also having to parent her two young children.
Kelsey explained: ‘Everyone wished me good luck at the end of my pregnancy and wanted me to have a happy ending.
‘It was the worst thing… well obviously losing Tom was the worst thing that ever happened to me but this it was like a double whammy of pain.
‘You never think it’s going to happen to you. I had to be strong for my other children. People were devastated for me.
‘My children really wanted their baby brother to be there. Their understanding of death is beyond children of their age so they understood that Phoenix wasn’t coming back.’
At the end of the interview however she added a positive spin on things, saying: ‘I like to think of it as Will is looking after Tom’s kids here and up there Tom is looking after Will’s child.’
It comes after earlier this month she revealed she will be trying for a baby in 2026 as she reflected on her tough year after suffering the heartbreaking stillbirth.
Kelsey lost her son Phoenix at 39 weeks when he was stillborn at home before she was taken to a maternity ward which added to the trauma of the experience
The star, 35, has two children, Aurelia, six, Bodhi, four, with the late Tom Parker from The Wanted, who died age 33 from a rare, aggressive brain tumor (glioblastoma) in 2022
Last June, Kelsey took to Instagram to tell her followers that she had lost her baby Phoenix
Speaking on her her podcast with Georgia Jones, Mum’s The Word!, Kelsey opened up about her ‘really really tough experience’.
Kelsey explained that all she wants is to have a ‘better year’ and said she will continue to try and have a baby.
She said: ‘I just want a better year, it was really really tough, it was s**t. I think to continue the path of, ‘is there a baby this year for me’, I could have one this year, which is exciting, also I think raising awareness and keep doing my charity work.’
Kelsey revealed a touching tribute to her stillborn son Phoenix ahead of Christmas.
She took to social media on Christmas eve to share how she has added her son to Tom’s memorial bench.
Kelsey shared a snap of the new plaque she has installed, which reads: ‘I walk towards my destiny with ease. Phoenix Parker-Lindsay.’
She then penned to fans: ‘Today we added our beautiful baby boy Phoenix to the bench with Tom.
‘It has always stayed with me that Will was looking after Tom’s children here, and now Tom is with Phoenix, looking after him for Will.
‘A medium once told me Tom had Phoenix in his arms, and was caring for Phoenix. Whether you believe in that or not doesn’t matter… what matters is the peace it brings.
‘What gives me peace is knowing my angel boys are together. Taken far too soon from us, but never truly gone. I feel them guiding us through life, surrounding us with love in ways we can’t always see.
‘I miss you both more than words can ever say. Always loved. Always remembered.’
Kelsey was flooded with support from fans, as one replied: ‘So beautifully said and I love that so much- love you all’;
‘Wow how special, doesn’t matter what others think or believe. It’s what matters to you’;
‘So beautiful, absolutely Tom is looking after Phoenix for you both I have no doubt xxx Tom is smiling down on yourself and will for all you do for the kids too’;
‘Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family – in heaven and on earth.’
At the end of last year Kelsey shared her feelings with fans on Instagram, admitting she needed ‘space to breathe’ and that she feels as though she sometimes has the weight of the ‘whole world’ on her shoulders.
In a video, she said: ‘Hi everyone, how are you all? I feel like I’ve been a little bit quiet, but you know what, that’s ok. It’s ok to not be ok all the time.
She continued: ‘We live in this world where everyone’s just trying to look like they’ve all got it figured out.
‘Strength means smiling for everything, sometimes strength means being still – it means saying, I just need quiet for a little bit.
‘Sometimes I just need calm, I just need space to breathe, to let my thoughts settle, to find myself again because life doesn’t stop and for me, it never really has.
‘I’ve literally had the children and raised them, and I’ve had to show up every single day – sometimes I struggle.
Kelsey is pictured with Tom who lost his battle with cancer in 2022
‘Sometimes I literally feel like I’m holding the whole world with my bare hands, but it’s the only thing I’ve ever known how to do.
‘It’s pushing forward, it’s keeping on going even when it’s hard, even when I am tired, because my babies are watching me, they’re learning from me, they are my reason, my peace and my power.
‘I’m not ok, but I don’t have to be. None of us do.’
She added: ‘What matters is that I keep moving, keep loving, keep believing that better days are coming. And they are, they’ve got to be.’
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