Sam Thompson's Emotional Therapy Journey After Sister's Birth Trauma
Reality television star Sam Thompson has made a heartfelt and emotional revelation about seeking professional therapy following the traumatic birth of his sister Louise's son in 2021. The I'm A Celebrity contestant tearfully disclosed that the near-fatal experience, during which Louise "nearly died three times", was one of the most distressing periods of his life.
The Harrowing Hospital Experience
Speaking candidly on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast, Sam recounted the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded after his sister gave birth to her son Leo. "Louise nearly died three times," he explained, detailing how the first incident occurred during the birth itself, followed by a second life-threatening uterine haemorrhage at home.
The third emergency happened when Sam received an urgent call from his mother while attending the ITV Palooza event. "My mum called me and was like 'you need to get to the hospital now'," he recalled. Despite being intoxicated and facing post-COVID hospital lockdown restrictions at Chelsea hospital around 11pm, Sam managed to gain entry and found Louise's partner Ryan on the floor in distress.
"That was one of the worst experiences of my entire life," Sam confessed, describing the moment doctors informed the family they couldn't stop Louise's bleeding. The emergency caesarean birth had triggered severe complications that would have lasting consequences.
Louise Thompson's Ongoing Health Battles
Following the traumatic birth experience, Louise Thompson has faced multiple serious health challenges that have significantly impacted her wellbeing. The former Made in Chelsea star developed:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the birth trauma
- Post-natal anxiety that affected her early motherhood experience
- A subsequent diagnosis of Lupus, an autoimmune disease
- Asherman's syndrome, where scar tissue causes uterine walls to adhere
- The need for a stoma bag after suffering a second haemorrhage
Sam expressed profound admiration for his sister's resilience, stating: "Louise has to go through it, I mean I've never seen anyone as strong as she is." He added that witnessing her strength through multiple emergency surgeries, including one where doctors had to remove her colon due to sepsis, made him realize how fortunate he was to still have her in his life.
The Therapeutic Path Forward
Sam openly acknowledged that he hadn't properly processed the emotional impact of his sister's near-death experiences until seeking professional help. "I got to therapy a bit," he shared, indicating that he continues to work through the trauma with professional support. The reality star emphasized that the therapeutic journey remains ongoing, with significant ground still to cover in addressing the psychological aftermath.
Meanwhile, Louise has been vocal about her own recovery process while appearing on Good Morning Britain. She revealed undergoing six emergency surgeries over the past four years and expressed determination to prevent similar experiences for other women.
Advocacy for Maternity Care Reform
Drawing from her personal ordeal, Louise Thompson has become an advocate for improved maternity services across the United Kingdom. She has joined forces with former MP Theo Clarke, who also experienced traumatic labour, to campaign for governmental action.
Their primary objective involves pushing for the appointment of a national maternity commissioner to oversee and enhance care standards for mothers and babies. Louise highlighted concerning statistics during her advocacy work, noting that maternal mortality rates have increased by 20% over the past fifteen years.
She criticized what she described as a "postcode lottery" in maternity care, where access to quality services varies significantly depending on geographical location. "Maternity care is very fragmented," Louise observed, calling for greater unification and consistency in healthcare provision.
"We NEED a maternity commissioner in this country," she asserted in a separate video statement, "because every woman deserves the right to a safe and dignified birth." Her advocacy represents a powerful transformation of personal trauma into meaningful public health campaigning.
The Thompson siblings' shared experience underscores the far-reaching impact of birth trauma, affecting not only mothers but their entire support networks. Their openness about mental health struggles and advocacy for systemic change highlights important conversations around maternity care, family support, and the psychological aftermath of medical emergencies.
