Former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson has shared a devastating personal revelation, confirming that she will never be able to carry another child due to the severe injuries she sustained during the birth of her son four years ago.
A Harrowing Ordeal and Lasting Consequences
Louise, now 35, nearly died giving birth to her son Leo in 2021. The influencer, who has since become a campaigner for women's health and maternity rights, developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the horrific complications she endured.
She has now detailed the specific medical conditions that prevent her from having more children. These include developing Asherman's Syndrome, a condition where scar tissue causes the uterine walls to adhere together. Her injuries also worsened pre-existing bowel problems and required emergency surgery following a post-natal haemorrhage.
Launching a Campaign for Change
After bravely sharing her experience with the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) earlier this summer, Louise has joined forces with former Conservative MP Theo Clarke. Ms Clarke, who herself suffered a third-degree perineal tear and incontinence after the birth of her daughter, established the APPG and led the first national inquiry into birth trauma.
Together, they are launching a petition in two weeks calling on the Government to appoint a dedicated commissioner to oversee maternity care. They aim to gather the 100,000 signatures required to trigger a Parliamentary debate on the issue.
A Wider Problem for Women's Health
Louise expressed her deep concern that a generation of women are being deterred from having children after reading about traumatic birth stories. 'It's something that a lot of people within my circle are talking about fairly regularly – the population problems we have,' she told this newspaper.
'Thousands of women are crying out to me about this topic,' she added. '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.'
Echoing this sentiment, Theo Clarke stated, 'Women have lost trust for the system and, unfortunately, they probably don't feel safe to give birth in British hospitals today.' Her powerful speech about her own experience in the House of Commons previously went viral, highlighting the urgent need for reform in UK maternity services.
