Louise Thompson recently revealed previously unseen footage and images from her challenging childbirth experience in 2021, highlighting the urgent need for improved maternity care nationwide. Following her delivery last year, Thompson encountered severe complications, including a significant blood loss of three-and-a-half liters during an emergency caesarean section, followed by an additional hemorrhage at her residence in London, resulting in a further five liters of blood loss before readmittance to the hospital.
Collaborating with former Conservative MP Theo Clarke, founder of the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the 35-year-old reality star has been actively advocating for enhanced maternity services. Thompson openly shared a series of hospital photos, dedicating her message to those who did not survive childbirth and advocating for a meeting with UK Health Minister Wes Streeting to prioritize childbirth care.
Since starting a family with her entrepreneur fiancé Ryan Libby five years ago, Thompson has been vocal about her ongoing health struggles, including Asherman’s Syndrome, a condition involving uterine scar tissue causing pelvic pain, infertility, and irregular periods. She has disclosed being advised against future pregnancies due to safety concerns and has been a staunch advocate for better support and education for women facing similar challenges.
Having experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following her son’s birth, Thompson now wears a stoma bag and has been actively seeking treatment. She has actively engaged in discussions with the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group and has been instrumental in launching a petition calling for the appointment of a UK maternity commissioner to oversee maternity care improvements.
In a recent Instagram post, Thompson emphasized the importance of the petition, which has garnered over 30,000 signatures, exceeding the required threshold for government response. The petition aims to address the significant number of women annually experiencing PTSD after childbirth. Thompson and Clarke underscored the necessity of a Maternity Commissioner and National Maternity Strategy to enhance maternal and infant care, emphasizing every woman’s right to a safe and dignified birthing experience.