Call the Midwife star Helen George has opened up about her serious health battle during pregnancy after she watched the epic BBC One series finale.
On Saturday (19 February), viewers were glued to their screens as they tuned in for the final episode the popular period drama after 11 series on air.
But after watching the nail-biting episode, the 37-year-old opened up about her own complications during her second pregnancy after watching her difficult illness featured on the show.
The mum-of-two – who has played the role of Nurse Trixie Franklin since 2012 – took a break from the show this year as she prepared to welcome her little one to her growing family.
(Image: BBC / Nealstreat Productions / Ray Burmiston)
She happily announced the birth of her second daughter during the countdown to Christmas last year, but it’s fair to say her birth was less than perfect.
And after watching the emotional episode over the weekend, the blonde bombshell has decided to share her own personal experience with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP).
The NHS defines the illness as a liver disorder caused by bile acids, which help the gut to digest food, and prevent the flow of food properly.
(Image: Instagram/ helenrgeorge)
The rare illness affects one in 140 pregnant women in the UK with his main symptom being itching without a rash which requires urgent medical attention.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Helen explained how the disorder affected her second pregnancy with her 221,000 followers online.
She wrote: “After last night’s final episode of Call the Midwife, it seemed the right time to talk about my experience with Cholestasis in Pregnancy.
(Image: Instagram/ helenrgeorge)
“In 2017 when I gave birth to our daughter Wren, I was diagnosed with this condition.
“I knew there was a high chance that I would suffer again with my second pregnancy, but I was under the most incredible specialists/doctors/midwives/health worker at Guys and St Thomas’s. So, I felt safe.
“I thought the second would be easier but it really wasn’t. Pre term birth is always a possibility with this condition but I was so hoping it wouldn’t come to that,” she said. “However, for me it did.”
(Image: Instagram)
Luckily, her daughter was born “early but healthy” and the pair made an astounding recovery with the help of the supportive staff at the London hospital.
She went on: “Lark was born on the 16th November to our chosen music, The Lark Ascending. The relief when we heard her first cry was overwhelming, a release of months of anxiety and the fear that this moment may not play out quite so successfully.
“I was lucky, but more so, well looked after. ICP support were there every step of the way to help me with whatever questions I had.”
(Image: Instagram/ helenrgeorge)
Helen urged other expectant mums who fear they may be suffering from the disorder to contact their doctors immediately and reach out to the charity who supported her throughout her pregnancy online.
She concluded: “Please, if you are worried you may have Cholestasis in Pregnancy or have been diagnosed and need any advice, do reach out to them.
“Spreading the world about this sometime fatal condition is really important to me. I was over the moon that Call the Midwife tackled the subject last night.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
