Britain's Got Talent star Amanda Holden has made a startlingly honest admission about the lingering emotional scars from her traumatic childbirth experience, revealing she still battles feelings of guilt over the impact on her youngest daughter.
The 53-year-old television personality, who nearly died while giving birth to her second daughter Hollie in 2012, confessed that the traumatic events continue to cast a shadow over their family life more than a decade later.
The Night That Changed Everything
Holden's life hung in the balance during the harrowing birth at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where she suffered a catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage. The beloved presenter lost nearly all her blood volume and required emergency surgery to save her life.
"I feel guilty because I think my youngest daughter has suffered from separation anxiety because of my traumatic birth with her," Holden revealed during an emotional discussion on her Heart FM breakfast show.
A Mother's Lingering Trauma
The television judge explained how the near-fatal experience has manifested in her daughter's behaviour over the years. "She was the one I nearly died having, and I do think that energy and that trauma goes through the umbilical cord," she shared with listeners.
Holden described noticing patterns of anxiety in her now 12-year-old daughter that she believes stem from those traumatic first moments of life. "She's always needed me more, she's always been more clingy," the mother-of-two explained.
Breaking the Silence on Birth Trauma
By speaking out, Holden joins a growing number of women breaking the silence around difficult childbirth experiences. Her candid confession highlights how maternal trauma can ripple through families long after the immediate physical danger has passed.
The media personality, who also shares 17-year-old daughter Lexi with husband Chris Hughes, emphasised the importance of acknowledging these emotional impacts rather than burying them.
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
Despite the ongoing challenges, Holden has become a powerful advocate for maternal health awareness. Her willingness to discuss such personal struggles publicly has earned praise from listeners and fellow parents alike.
The Britain's Got Talent judge's honesty about maternal guilt and trauma provides comfort to countless other parents who may be experiencing similar feelings but lack the platform to voice them.
