Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash wanted to "wait" and be sure before making their pregnancy announcement.

Stacey Solomon

Stacey Solomon

The 31-year-old star - who already has Rex, two, with the former 'EastEnders' actor and Zachery, 13, and nine-year-old Leighton from previous relationships - has opened up about her baby joy, revealing she made sure to pick the right moment to let the public know.

Speaking on ITV's 'Loose Women', she told her fellow panellists: "I don't think having it out there was ever a worry. You know what I was like girls? I was in denial.

"I was like, 'Well you never know, it might not happen, it might not happen'. I think we just wanted to wait to a point where if it was happening, it was actually happening, hopefully."

And while the former 'X Factor' star admitted that privacy has its benefits, she also loves being able to "share everything".

She added: "Sometimes it's nice to share everything so everyone's part of every experience - good or bad. And sometimes it's nice to just fester in a cave on your own. 'I've gotta stay safe and stay in!'"

When it comes to her three sons, Stacey said they are all "so excited" to having another siblings and while Rex is still too young to understand what it means, his love for animals suggests he'll cope just fine.

She explained: "They're so excited. Rex has no idea. He's not at that age. But I know that he loves his animals ... I think he'll love it. We're just so grateful and so privileged to be able to have another baby. We love being parents - it's our favourite thing in the whole wide world and we cannot wait."

Meanwhile, Stacey and Joe have revealed they're delaying their wedding until their baby is born.

Replying to a fan on her Instagram Story, who asked: "Do you think you'll get married before pickle [her baby] arrives?", Stacey said: "We're moving it back a few months. Both of us said that we would be gutted when we're looking back at the pictures and not all of our children were there.

"So, for the sake of a few months, we will wait until the baby is born and then do it. All of us together."