"Celebs Go Dating Star Anna Williamson Shares Harrowing 40-Hour Birth Story - OK! Magazine"

For some, the journey of childbirth is nothing short of magical, but for others, like TV star Louise Thompson, it's a harrowing ordeal that can leave lasting scars.

This week, which runs from 15-21 July and marks Birth Trauma Awareness Week, sees TV presenter and dating guru Anna Williamson, who champions the cause for the Birth Trauma Association, sharing her own harrowing tale of childbirth.

Back in 2017, when Anna welcomed her son Enzo into the world, she suffered a massive two and a half litre haemorrhage post-forceps delivery. 'He was two weeks overdue and it was a very long labour. It was a 40-hour labour, which did result in birth interventions. I ended up having a forceps delivery. The whole process was deeply traumatic for me because I, like many women can attest to, felt so very out of control,' Anna confided to OK!

She continued, revealing the emotional toll the experience took on her: 'I remember the procedure happening and just feeling as though my body wasn't my own anymore. It was a vessel that was in the hands of others, and I felt helpless. They weren't doing anything wrong, but I felt helpless at that moment.'

The aftermath of Enzo's birth left Anna, now 42 and one half of the LuAnna: The Podcast duo with Luisa Zissman, grappling with PTSD and depression, a plight shared by up to one in five new and expectant mothers, according to NHS England statistics.

'The mental impact was enormous. It was life changing. This trauma stays with mothers for the rest of their lives. This trauma will stay with me for the rest of my life. I've learned to process it, but I think birth, because it is so common, the impact it has on the mother is underestimated by so many,' she says.

'I think so many women are silenced into 'oh but you must be so happy you've had a baby. There are people worse off than you', that we bury our trauma. But it doesn't go anywhere, it stays internal and with time it just gets bigger.'

'Seven years ago it wasn't a topic that was talked about. And so then I had the most horrific breakdown, which affected my initial bonding with my son and then it greatly changed my decision over having another baby. I did go on to have another baby, which was a miracle, but by design, I had a planned C-section and I paid to go privately,' the TV star bravely added.

With the theme of Birth Trauma Awareness Week this year being informed consent, a survey launched to mark the campaign found that two in five women giving birth have had procedures performed on them without their consent. As many other women share their own experience of birth times, Anna admits there's a 'deep empathy' with those who have been through similar.

'There is, I wouldn't say comfort, I'd say there's a deep empathy, but also an enormous sadness that other women felt those terrible depths of despair that I did because you really wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy. What should be the happiest time of your life can be the blackest and most desperate time of your life all because of the way that your birth was handled,' she says.

Recounting her harrowing experience, Anna, now seven years after her ordeal, is determined to shine a light on birth trauma and advocate for better maternity care to ensure others don't suffer as she did. Reflecting on what she would tell her past self, Anna's words resonate with raw emotion.

'I would say, 'don't worry, babe, it is going to be okay. Hang in there.' This is what I say to every new mum that reaches out to me. I just say, 'hang on in there, kid. You keep talking, keep sharing your feelings. Double down on the ones that you love and trust. You will get through this. The brighter days will come. Don't be brave and think you have to suck it up. Say you need help and whatever it takes for you to get help, reach out for it. Take it and it will get better,'' she adds.

'For me, the biggest moment of catharsis I had, which was a very emotional moment, was when I realised that actually I was a good mum and that I have always loved my baby. I was just poorly in those early months. I'd like to reassure myself back then because I'm not defined by my birth experience. I know I'm a brilliant mum because I care, and that really is enough.'

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