Gemma Atkinson didn’t realise she was bleeding hours after her emergency c-section.
The former ‘Emmerdale’ actress and her partner Gorka Marquez welcomed their daughter Mia into the world 10 weeks ago, and she has opened up about her dramatic childbirth experience which she has described a "success" despite how difficult it was at the time.
Appearing on ITV’s ‘Loose Women’, she said: "My waters broke, I tried for two days, nothing happened so they induced me in every way they could, nothing happened.
"Then suddenly the contractions started but with every contraction, Mia’s heart rate dropped, and it got too low so it was an emergency c-section which they took me out of the room for."
Hours later, Gemma suffered a haemorrhage, although because of the medication she had taken she initially didn’t realise the extent of the problem.
She explained: "I had the c-section, Mia came all good but a few hours later I had a haemorrhage. Because I was numb from the epidural I wasn’t aware of the bleeding, I couldn’t feel anything."
The former soap star and her man Gorka appeared together on the daytime panel show to discuss parenthood, and the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star admitted he found it difficult seeing his partner in that state.
He said: "I started to feel very bad, they had to put me in a chair because I was feeling dizzy."
Gemma also addressed online trolls claiming she took the "easy way out" by having a c-section, and she pointed out the challenges the surgery can present to new mums.
She explained: "Now, I feel a lot better in myself but it’s afterwards, because I was on such strong medication, the dreams you have, everything’s just – I didn’t feel right.
"Not being able to hold her for long, put the car seat in. My mum moved in with me because Gorka was on tour, and it made me appreciate how many women do it on their own.
"I’ve had friends who had c-sections and they’ve been told not to lift, and they’re got a two-year-old as well. It’s so difficult for them."
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez open up on difficult childbirth
