MP's Terrifying Birth Ordeal Revealed on Live TV
This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard were visibly moved to tears during Monday's edition of the ITV show as guest Claire Coutinho shared a devastating personal story about her recent childbirth experience.
The Shadow Energy Secretary and Shadow Minister for Equalities recounted an ordeal that she described as something 'no one should ever experience', leaving both presenters struggling to maintain their composure during the emotional segment.
From Routine Pregnancy to Life-Threatening Crisis
Claire Coutinho revealed that her pregnancy had progressed normally until the final stages, when she began experiencing difficulty eating that she initially attributed to acid reflux. The situation took a dramatic turn following the birth of her son Rafa via Caesarean section earlier this year.
The moment her son was born became immediately terrifying when neither Claire nor her husband Adam could hear their newborn crying. "The moment he came out, he was blue, he was limp and he got rushed off," Adam recounted. "The anaesthetist said, 'Don't worry, it'll only be a minute or so'. We were waiting for 15 very long minutes."
Fortunately, baby Rafa recovered and was brought to his mother, but Claire's health began to deteriorate rapidly soon after. "At first, I was throwing up, I was ballooning up and my vision was blurred. I could sense that my thinking was becoming unclear," the MP disclosed.
Induced Coma and Multiple Organ Failure
Days after giving birth, doctors diagnosed Claire with acute fatty liver of pregnancy, a very rare but serious condition that necessitated placing her in an induced coma. "I was essentially going into multiple organ failure," Claire explained during the emotional interview.
The situation became so critical that her husband Adam was advised to prepare for the worst. A will was quickly drawn up as medical staff fought to stabilise her condition. "It was extraordinarily scary spending my time running between the specialist unit that Rafa was on and the ICU where Claire was," Adam confessed to the This Morning hosts.
Ben Shephard summarised the gravity of the situation by stating: "Away from Westminster, Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho faced an ordeal no mother should ever have to experience."
A Happy Ending Against All Odds
Despite the terrifying prognosis, Claire's condition gradually improved, and she described the moment she was reunited with her son as "heaven". She shared joyful updates about her now ten-month-old son during the programme.
"He is gorgeous. He's ten months, he's got two teeth. He's got very sticky hands. He's actually just standing and wobbling a lot, but he's brilliant," Claire said, beaming. "I'm really pleased to say it's a very happy ending; we are all well."
The emotional interview served as a stark reminder of the potential complications that can arise during childbirth, even in seemingly straightforward pregnancies. Cat Deeley concluded the segment by directing viewers affected by the issues raised to organisations including Tommy's and The National Childbirth Trust for support and information.
