Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s Thrilling Baby News Unveils Clues to a New Little Pickle’s Name and Gender

On May 16, 2025, Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash, Britain’s favorite TV couple, sent their fans into a frenzy with a surprise announcement: they’re expecting their fourth child together, due later this year. The Loose Women star, 35, and her husband, former EastEnders actor Joe Swash, 43, shared the news via a vibrant Instagram post from their Essex home, affectionately dubbed Pickle Cottage. Accompanied by a video of their blended family of six children dancing in their garden, the couple dropped tantalizing hints about the baby’s gender and name, sparking a wave of speculation and celebration. As fans dissect every clue, this joyful milestone underscores the Solomon-Swash clan’s knack for turning life’s surprises into moments of magic.

A Blended Family Full of Love

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash are no strangers to the spotlight. Stacey, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2009 and won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2010, has become a household name through her Loose Women panelist role and her BBC show Sort Your Life Out. Her warmth, creativity, and knack for home organization have made her a social media sensation, with 6 million Instagram followers. Joe, a beloved TV personality known for EastEnders and I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp, brings humor and heart to their partnership. The couple, who met on I’m a Celebrity in 2010, began dating in 2016, got engaged in 2020, and married at Pickle Cottage in July 2022.

Their blended family is a testament to their love. Together, they have three children: Rex (born May 2019), Rose (born October 2021), and Belle (born February 2023). Stacey is also mom to Zachary (17) and Leighton (13) from previous relationships, while Joe is dad to Harry (18) from his ex-partner Emma Sophocleous. Life at Pickle Cottage, a charming Essex home filled with ducks, dogs, and DIY projects, is a whirlwind of chaos and joy, as seen in their BBC reality show Stacey & Joe, which aired its first series in April 2025. The show, renewed for a second series, captured moments like Joe’s ADHD diagnosis and Stacey’s National Television Award win, endearing them further to fans.

A Surprise Pregnancy Announcement

The announcement of their fourth child together came as a delightful shock. After welcoming Belle in 2023, Stacey had hinted at feeling “broody” in early 2024, but she and Joe were focused on their reality show and parenting their six children. In April 2025, during a routine check-up, Stacey discovered she was pregnant, a revelation that left her and Joe both thrilled and slightly overwhelmed. “Another little pickle on the way!” Stacey wrote on Instagram, using her affectionate nickname for her kids. The post featured a video of Rex, Rose, and Belle chasing bubbles in the garden, with Zachary, Leighton, and Harry cheering, while Stacey and Joe held a tiny pair of baby boots.

The couple’s decision to share the news early—Stacey is in her second trimester—reflected their desire to celebrate with their fans, who’ve followed their journey since Rex’s birth. The announcement also addressed their openness about family planning, including past discussions about fostering, inspired by Joe’s mother, a foster carer for 15 years. While fostering remains a future goal, this unexpected pregnancy has taken center stage, with the family already buzzing about their new addition.

Clues to Gender and Name

Stacey and Joe’s announcement was packed with hints about the baby’s gender and name, a tradition they’ve upheld with their previous children. In the Instagram video, Stacey wore a lavender dress, prompting fans to speculate about a girl, as she wore pink before revealing Rose and Belle’s genders. Joe, holding a blue balloon, added to the mystery, with some fans guessing a boy. The couple teased the gender further in an Instagram Story, where Stacey said, “We’ve had a scan, and the baby’s got Joe’s pouty lips—sound familiar?”—a nod to their 2023 debate over Belle’s lips, when Stacey accidentally hinted at a boy before confirming a girl.

The name clues were equally tantalizing. A chalkboard in the video read, “Hello, Little Bloom,” leading fans to speculate a floral or nature-inspired name, like their daughters Rose and Belle. Stacey’s caption mentioned “a new bud joining our garden,” reinforcing the theme. Fans have suggested names like Lily, Ivy, or Blossom, while others pointed to gemstone names like Pearl or Ruby, given Rose’s middle name, Opal, and Belle’s birthstone, Garnet. Joe, ever the joker, hinted at a “strong, classic name” during a Q&A, ruling out quirky choices like “Cucumber,” which Rex once suggested for Belle. The couple’s history of meaningful names—Rex Toby Francis (honoring grandparents) and Rose Opal Esmè (symbolizing love and jewels)—suggests a name that blends tradition and sentiment.

A Social Media Frenzy

The announcement ignited social media, with fans flooding Instagram and X with reactions. Hashtags like #PickleCottageBaby and #StaceyAndJoe trended, as followers shared clips of the garden video. One fan wrote, “Another Solomon-Swash baby? My heart can’t handle this joy!” Another speculated, “Lavender dress means a girl, right? Bloom sounds like a perfect sister for Rose and Belle!” Celebrity friends, including Loose Women’s Denise Welch and cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch, joined the chorus, with Denise commenting, “Another pickle for the cottage—love you all!” The excitement echoed the response to Belle’s birth in 2023, when fans praised Stacey’s home-birth video and the name reveal.

The gender and name clues sparked lively debates. Some fans analyzed the balloon colors, with one X post joking, “Joe’s blue balloon is a red herring—Stacey’s dress screams girl!” Others focused on the “Bloom” hint, predicting a name tied to spring, given the baby’s expected December 2025 arrival. The couple’s playful ambiguity kept the buzz alive, with Stacey promising a full reveal “once we’re sure it’s who they are,” a phrase she used before naming Rose and Belle.

A Family Ready to Grow

The pregnancy has brought new energy to Pickle Cottage. Rex, now 6, is eager to be a “big brother boss,” drawing pictures of the baby for the nursery. Rose, 3, and Belle, 2, are blissfully unaware but love patting Stacey’s growing bump. Zachary and Leighton, the family’s “wise elders,” have taken on extra chores, while Harry, who lives part-time with his mom, is excited to meet his new sibling. The family’s two dogs and four ducks, stars of Stacey & Joe, add to the lively atmosphere, with Joe joking that the baby will need “earplugs to survive this zoo.”

Stacey, a hands-on mom, is embracing her pregnancy with her signature optimism, sharing DIY nursery plans on Instagram. She’s crafted a mobile with tiny flowers, hinting at the baby’s theme, and is considering a home birth, as she did with Rose and Belle. Joe, despite his chaotic parenting style—famously forgetting nappies in their reality show—is stepping up, planning a “baby-moon” getaway before the due date. Their blended family dynamic, showcased in Stacey & Joe, resonates with fans, who admire their ability to balance love and logistics.

Challenges and Joys Ahead

The pregnancy isn’t without challenges. Stacey’s history of irregular periods and breastfeeding (noted during Belle’s pregnancy) made this pregnancy another “huge surprise.” Her busy schedule—filming Sort Your Life Out, appearing on Loose Women, and preparing for Stacey & Joe’s second series—requires careful pacing, especially after she admitted to overworking during Belle’s pregnancy. Joe’s ADHD, diagnosed in 2024, adds another layer, with Stacey often managing the household’s chaos. Yet, their openness about these struggles, shared in their reality show, has endeared them to fans, who see them as relatable parents navigating life’s messiness.

The announcement also reflects their resilience. Stacey’s past struggles with anxiety and Joe’s experiences as a stepdad and dad have shaped their parenting philosophy: love first, perfection later. Their discussions about fostering, though paused for now, show their commitment to giving back, inspired by Joe’s mother’s work. This pregnancy, a joyful detour, has only strengthened their bond, with Stacey calling Joe her “rock” in a recent post.

A Universal Story

The Solomon-Swash baby news resonates because it captures the beauty of unexpected blessings. Stacey and Joe’s journey—from meeting on a reality show to building a family of eight (soon nine)—mirrors the hopes of many. Their knack for turning chaos into joy, seen in everything from Stacey’s crafty nursery designs to Joe’s goofy dad moments, makes their story universally appealing. Fans, who’ve followed their pregnancies since Rex, feel invested, with one commenting, “Your family is like ours—loud, messy, and full of love.”

As Stacey approaches her due date, anticipation is building. Will the baby be a girl named Lily or a boy named Jasper? Will Stacey share another tear-jerking home-birth video? For now, the couple is savoring the moment, with Stacey planning a garden-themed nursery and Joe promising to “not forget the nappies this time.” Their fans, along for the ride, are ready to celebrate the next chapter of the Pickle Cottage saga.

A New Pickle on the Way

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s baby announcement is more than a celebrity milestone; it’s a celebration of family, surprises, and the joy of new beginnings. The hints of “Bloom” and a lavender dress have fans guessing, but one thing is certain: this little pickle will be loved to the moon and back. As the Solomon-Swash clan prepares for their newest member, their story—of laughter, love, and a touch of chaos—continues to inspire, proving that the best moments are often the ones you never saw coming.