Gemma Atkinson has opened up about wanting another child despite the gruelling difficulties she faced with the birth of her first child.
The 27-year-old star opened up about her life-threatening complications she suffered while she was delivering her daughter Mia who she shares with partner Gorka Marquez.
During the latest instalment of Steph’s Packed Lunch, the former Hollyoaks star recalled how she needed to have an emergency c-section when her baby’s heart rate suddenly dropped.
And things soon went from bad to worse after the blonde bombshell suffered a haemorrhage after the birth and lost almost a litre of blood.
(Image: PA)
On the Channel 4 programme, the doting mum described now two-year-old Mia as “the best thing that’s ever happened to me” as she explained her traumatic birth on air.
Gemma confessed: “All these things were going through my mind, what did I do that caused all that to happen? I was telling myself for weeks and weeks that I’d failed at childbirth.
“I was having horrible dreams that someone was going to take Mia from me. I remember my mum running in my bedroom as I was sat up screaming, sweating.”
(Image: Instagram)
But after she gave fans explained a fraction of what her horrific birth was like on social media, the star received a number of comments from trolls online.
One example she remembered in the Channel 4 clip was during a walk through the park, as she shared: “We went out with the pram and a lady said, ‘Oh I believe it [the birth] wasn’t a success was it, you know, what happened?’
“My mum piped up and said, ‘It was a huge success, Mia’s there, Gemma’s here, total success.’ Something clicked in me then, my body had done me proud because it had recovered and got me through.”
(Image: glouiseatkinson/Instagram)
Now, after meeting another mum who also experienced PTSD after she delivered her first child, the starlet has confessed how she’s now considering having another baby.
She explained: “I’m at the stage where I want a sister or brother for Mia.
“The first few months of Mia’s life, I kept saying to my partner Gorka, I’m not going through that again. I’ve come out of it and I feel I could.”
After speaking to other mums who went through similar complications as herself, Gemma has been able to process her experience and help her get through the trauma of her first birth.
(Image: Instagram)
Gemma added: “It was strangely comforting speaking to the women, it makes you feel like you’re not on your own, you’re not the only person who had a difficult labour.
“If anyone needs help, please ask for it because you deserve to be the happiest, healthiest parent.”
For help or advice, please visit: channel4.com/4viewers/help-support
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4 and All 4.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
