Gretel Bueta's pregnancy news delights netball world after heartache
The Aussie netball star is expecting her second child after suffering a devastating miscarriage last year.
Aussie netball star Gretel Bueta has delighted fans after announcing she's pregnant with her second child. The goal shooter took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal the wonderful news, writing: "We can’t wait for Bobby’s little brother to join us this year."
The news comes three months after Bueta revealed in November last year that she'd suffered a devastating miscarriage. The 29-year-old star hasn't played since she took time away from the game in October after helping the Diamonds win gold at the Commonwealth Games in August.
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The news sparked an outpouring of love from fans and Bueta's teammates. Paige Hadley wrote on Instagram: "Crying with happpppinesss. So happy for your beautiful fam. Congrats."
Donnell Wallam wrote "Yayyyy. Congratulations again Buetas", while Cath Cox added: "Oh Grets this is the best news ever!!! So happy for you guys!!"
Bueta was set to return to training with the Queensland Firebirds in December, but extended her leave of absence. The beautiful reason has now come to light.
Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich congratulated Bueta and her family, saying: "Gretel showed incredible strength during such a challenging time and we are excited her and Niko are expecting a child this year. Gretel remains an important part of the Diamonds family and we will continue to support her throughout her pregnancy."
Bueta will now miss the 2023 Super Netball season - as she originally planned to do before the miscarriage. The 29-year-old also won't be available for the World Cup in July.
“Going through a miscarriage is not nice at all, but we are just so grateful we have fallen pretty quickly,” Bueta told the Courier Mail. “It never gets easy when you go to the scans, you have a bit of nervous energy and my heart goes out to women who experience fertility issues because it’s awful.
"But the support that I felt during that time was huge. You’re just grateful for every day growing a baby and you cherish it, and I squeeze Bobby a little bit tighter during it all."
Gretel Bueta's pregnancy joy after miscarriage
The goal shooter welcomed first child Bobby with husband Niko in January 2021. However she was left heartbroken last year when she miscarried, revealing she'd been forced to announce the pregnancy earlier than she would have liked in order to explain why she wasn't playing.
"It is with deep sadness that Niko and I confirm that I have experienced a miscarriage,” she said at the time. “I understood I was announcing a bit early, and the risks associated. I did not want to let teammates down, nor train and play pregnant and be at my absolute best physically and mentally.
"It was a tricky time. I am confident I would do the same again. It has been a really difficult time. I have been through a whirlwind of emotions, cried a lot, but thrilled to have Niko and Bobby by my side every inch of the way."
Reporter Amy Price wrote at the time: "It is another cruel reality for female athletes to have to openly share and explain their experience with motherhood and fertility to their workplace, fans and teammates. Gretel had to announce her pregnancy early to explain truthfully why she withdrew from the Test series.
"She knew the risks associated. And now she is bravely, and again truthfully, choosing to share that she has lost that pregnancy."
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