Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson has opened up about her gruelling health journey following the birth of her son, which has left her unable to have any more children.
The 35-year-old TV personality gave birth to her first son Leo back in 2021 but suffered serious health complications during the birth, which could have easily seen her lose her life.
Pregnancy and labour can be an extremely scary and difficult time, and Thompson suffered from Asherman's Syndrome, where scar tissue in the uterus becomes glued together, which means she cannot have any more children.
The London-born mum also suffered from bowel problems and post-natal haemorrhage, which led to emergency surgery, after giving birth to her son, who is now four. She also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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She told This Morning: "In the original surgery I lost three-and-a-half litres [of blood] and then in the second I lost five-and-a-half litres, which is a lot. It's crazy how long it can take to actually process all of it.
"There were times when I was finally discharged from hospital where I couldn't really function, I couldn't connect with my son and I just didn't recognise my life."
She has now teamed up with former Conservative MP Theo Clarke to produce a petition fighting for better maternity care in the UK.
Thompson said: "It's something that a lot of people within my circle are talking about fairly regularly – the population problems we have.
"Thousands of women are crying out to me about this topic. Speaking on my own personal experience, I won't be able to carry another child. So immediately that puts us in a position where we are part of that problem now."
Clarke, who is the niece of Jacob Rees-Mogg, went viral when she broke down in parliament about her own experience giving birth, as she was left with incontinence and a third-degree perineal tear after having her three-year-old daughter Arabella.
She said: "Women have lost trust for the system and, unfortunately, they probably don't feel safe to give birth in British hospitals today."
The petition, which will officially be launched in around two weeks time, is calling on the government to appoint a commissioner to oversee maternity care, and it will require 100,000 signatures to prompt a debate.
Meanwhile, fellow Made in Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump has also hit the headlines because of health issues, after he was diagnosed with 'end stage liver disease'.
James Moorhouse