Olympia Valance is expecting her first child with her husband Thomas Bellchambers.
The 31-year-old Australian model and actress announced the happy pregnancy news on Saturday in an Instagram post, in which she spoke candidly about her fertility struggles.
In photos shared to her social media, 35-year-old Thomas holds Olympia’s growing baby bump while holding a positive pregnancy test.
“I’ve been hiding for the past 5.5 months trying to make sure this wasn’t all a dream,” she began in her caption.
“But you just kept growing and growing and it’s starting to look like our dreams are finally coming true.”
“I have been as open and honest as I could about our struggles with infertility and I truly believed that this day would not be possible for us. So when I saw this positive pregnancy test, I have to admit that I was not jumping for joy at that moment. I was filled with fear, because that is all I have ever known. But as the weeks went by, it became difficult to wipe the smiles off our faces.”
The former Neighbours star told how excited she was about starting a family while also thanking her supporters who supported them through their ‘darkest days’.
“To the little one we never thought we’d meet, we can’t wait to hold you in our arms. You were worth every tear, every setback, and every prayer,” she continued.
Olympia Valance, 31, is expecting her first child with husband Thomas Bellchambers, 35
“To all the people who supported us through the darkest days, thank you. I know I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without the strength of my family and friends who kept me going when I was falling apart.”
Olympia also paid tribute to families who have faced fertility issues or pregnancy loss.
“It’s also incredibly important for me to realize that while this is the best news in the world for Thomas and me, my heart breaks for everyone who saw this and felt pain,” she said.
‘It’s been so hard for me to write this because I feel like I’m stuck between two worlds. It’s not an easy road and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s an emotional rollercoaster through hell.
The Australian model and actress announced the joyful pregnancy news in an Instagram post on Saturday, while speaking candidly about her fertility struggles
In the photos, Thomas cradled Olympia’s baby bump while holding a positive pregnancy test
“Stay strong, keep fighting, but most of all, don’t forget to be kind to yourself.”
Olympia’s post was met with many congratulations from her friends and fans in the comments.
“Congratulations darling xxx,” wrote AFL WAG Rebecca Judd.
“Prayers answered is a beautiful way of putting it. Heartbreaking for you both,” added Channel Seven presenter Kylie Gillies.
In a recent interview with Stellar In an interview with Olympia magazine, she confirmed that she is 25 weeks pregnant and spoke candidly about her IVF journey.
“The first few times I did IVF, I got pregnant but I couldn’t hold them,” she said, revealing that she has a bicornuate uterus – a rare condition where the uterus is heart-shaped with two sides instead of one hollow cavity.
Olympia confirmed she is 25 weeks pregnant. Pictured with husband Thomas Bellchambers
The Playing for Keeps star said she suffered multiple miscarriages before considering using contraception, but eventually fell pregnant with their “miracle baby.”
“Thomas and I were very cautious, using protection. It was like we were dating again and then one slipped past the keeper and it was very, very depressing. It was not a happy moment,” she added.
“I was a couple weeks away from getting an IUD. Just our luck. And then eight weeks went by and nine weeks, 10 weeks, the 13 week scan went by, and it just kept growing and growing and growing. So it’s the miracle baby. I’m pregnant.”
In May, the former soap star said the lengthy IVF process had left her exhausted and she had hit rock bottom after a tragic miscarriage.
“My body was exhausted and my mind was exhausted,” she said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
‘I’ve always been an outgoing, happy person and found myself becoming a recluse. I needed a complete reset.
In July 2023, Valance announced she had miscarried twins during the Covid pandemic and later that year she announced she had suffered a second miscarriage at six weeks pregnant.
“Thomas and I had a miscarriage of twins, in the middle of the corona crisis. You can imagine that was terribly painful,” she said in the fragment.
“We haven’t been able to get pregnant since then. That would have been two years of really trying,” the actress continued.
“For any woman or couple trying to conceive, there is no worse pain than looking at that negative pregnancy test every month. It breaks your heart in two.”
Olympia said she was reluctant to ‘try IVF’ because she ‘never did well with hormones’.
“Adding even more hormones to my wild cycle scares me to death,” she confessed, but said she did not see a fertility specialist.
“I want children and I will do everything to have them,” Olympia decided.
In May, the former soap star said the lengthy IVF process had left her exhausted and she had hit rock bottom after a tragic miscarriage
Olympia and footballer Thomas got married in June 2022.
The stars walked down the aisle and tied the knot in a picturesque ceremony in Daylesford, Victoria, attended by 250 family and friends.
The couple later enjoyed their honeymoon in Greece, where they were joined by their sister Holly Candy.
Olympia, who rose to fame when she joined Neighbours in 2014 as Paige Smith, and Tom got engaged in October 2021.
The couple started dating in June 2019 after meeting him through the exclusive dating app Raya.
Olympia and Thomas married in June 2022. They walked down the aisle in a picturesque ceremony attended by 250 family and friends in Daylesford, Victoria. Pictured on their wedding day