Christine Lampard has revealed she didn’t announce her pregnancy for quite a while due to superstition and nerves over something going wrong.
The television presenter, 39, waited until she was four and a half months pregnant to break the happy news.
She told ITV’s Lorraine: “As anyone who goes through this [knows], you can’t help being a bit anxious. And I’m a bit superstitious, to be honest, as well. I kind of thought, ‘let’s get to the big scan and be told hopefully everything is okay so far.’
“I was just really tentative about announcing something and then maybe something happening.
“Of course, we know that can happen at any stage, but I did want to try to get as far as I could – and telling the girls [husband Frank’s daughters] and everything else.”
Christine said she did a pregnancy test at home, then five or six more but the news still didn’t sink in.
“I was thinking this couldn’t be real,” she recalled.
Read more: Katy Perry criticises Meghan Markle’s wedding dress
“It’s lovely, excited doesn’t even quite go there! You get to the stage where you don’t think about it and think maybe it won’t happen, but suddenly it does!”
Christine said the pregnancy was extra special because it will be her parents’ first grandchild and her sister’s first niece or nephew.
She also spoke of how husband Frank’s two daughters – Isla and Luna – had reacted with joy.
“The girls are completely beside themselves, more so than I thought they would be,” she said. “It does have to a girl, but I can’t guarantee that! They are desperate for a little girl! They’re constantly talking to the belly, constantly chatting and wanting to be the first name it says. It’s just lovely.”
Christine added: “I wasn’t terribly sick in those early stages which was great, a bit nauseous but nothing too major. But I feel good. I’m trying to just be good, I keep walking – walking everywhere is my key.
“I’m trying to do all the right things but obviously being completely new to this, as any first-time mum will know, there is a whole list of things I didn’t know about so I’m learning on the job!”
Christine told Lorraine her growing baby bump changing size throughout the day.
“There’s a tiny bump there in the morning where it’s not too bad, but as the day progresses I gradually get bigger and bigger,” she said.
“The second I start to eat it starts getting bigger. [The morning] is the good stage – it’s contained! But it gets bigger as the day goes on.”
Christine added that retired footballer husband Frank, 39, couldn’t wait to be a dad again
“He really can’t wait. A very excited daddy-to-be! I think because the girls are so into it as well, it’s a lovely unit. We’re all in this together and we feel very grateful.”
Lorraine airs weekdays at 8.30am on ITV.
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook