Louise Thompson has detailed how her extremely difficult birth and subsequent severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) left her struggling to bond with her newborn son, Leo. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, nearly died during an emergency caesarean in 2021, leading to profound mental health issues and physical complications.
Near-Death Experience and Emergency Surgery
Thompson had pushed for an elective C-section, fearing her petite frame would struggle to birth a baby measuring large, but her concerns were ignored. During labour, Leo could not fit through her pelvis, necessitating an emergency C-section. During the surgery, an artery was nicked, causing a haemorrhage that resulted in a 75% blood loss. Doctors battled for four hours to save her life.
After returning home, Thompson haemorrhaged again and spent weeks in hospital battling further blood loss, sepsis, and pneumonia, which robbed her of precious bonding time with Leo. Her partner, Ryan Libbey, 35, had to care for both her and their son, splitting his time between the hospital and their London home.
Struggle to Bond with Son
Thompson told The Telegraph: "I found it painful and difficult to engage with him in those early moments – he was associated with what had happened, which was hard for me to process. His crying was incredibly triggering to me, which sent me into a dissociative state."
Even after discharge, things did not improve. She said: "I sat in that garden for eight hours at a time during my recovery, in the middle of winter, wearing a massive coat, staring into space. I couldn't be inside with anybody. Not even my child. I was really bad. I couldn't think... That, for me, was what death looked like."
Campaign for Better Maternity Care
Since her experience, Thompson has been calling for improved maternity care in the UK. In January, she launched an official petition to appoint a maternity commissioner, which gained over 150,000 signatures. On Tuesday, Baroness Amos formally recommended the appointment in her report on maternity and neonatal services.
Future Family Plans
Despite the trauma, Thompson and Libbey hope to expand their family using IVF and a surrogate.
