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Andrea McLean takes swipe at ex-husband as she reveals childbirth experience

The presenter opened up about her traumatic experience with her son Finlay

During Friday’s Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean opened up about the traumatic birth of her son Finlay.

And she also took a swipe at her ex-husband after shockingly revealing that he left her alone while she was in labour.

The loose ladies were discussing whether we should stop sugar-coating childbirth on Friday’s show.

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The presenter told co-stars Stacey Solomon, Anne Diamond and Kaye Adams: “I was 33 and I’d been to all the classes, you know I had to have fertility treatment, he was much-longed-for baby.

“I did everything you’re supposed to do.

“And when it finally came I was 12 days overdue and went in to be induced and his dad went home because he said ‘there’s no point in us both being tired.'”

A stunned Stacey said: “Wow.”

As the audience laughed nervously Andrea added: “That’s why he’s my ex husband!”

The star continued: “I went through the whole night on my own with the midwives fleetingly popping in and out the door while I was mooing in pain.

“I had a bath and couldn’t get out of it. I got stuck and couldn’t reach the bell, I had to drain the water and sit in an empty bath naked.

“I was sick. Eventually I was walking down the corridor to the birthing room and two nurses walked by and laughed at me.

“That moment where you feel so vulnerable and raw – it was horrendous.”

She went on to explain that she ended up having an emergency cesarean.

Her fellow panellists also opened up about their experiences.

Mum-of-two Stacey was very graphic when explaining her horrific birth with her son Zachary.

She told the panel: “[Not sugar coating childbirth] is something I feel really strongly about. My first childbirth was a traumatic one.

“I was really young, just 18 years old at the time, but I remember that I was furious at every woman in my family for telling me how childbirth was ‘painful but amazing’ and that I would forget about the pain.”

The bubbly singer recalled a moment where she had “a full arm up me, ripping that baby out” during the birth.

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Kaye, 54, gently asked: “Do you think ‘rip’ is the right word?”

Stacey replied: “Yeah, they weren’t gently coaxing it out!”

She added: “It’s not about scaring people it’s about educating. I think people should come forward if it was traumatic. Just be honest about it.

“I think it’s so important that we speak about our experiences truthfully.”

The panel were praised by viewers watching from home for being so open about the topic.

One tweeted: “Love this talk about childbirth! People need to be more aware of what can happen when giving birth.”

“@StaceySolomon I 100% agree with you- no need to scare new mums to be but all child birth eventualities should be discussed,” another said.

A third wrote: “Great that you are speaking out about this @StaceySolomon. I suffered a traumatic birth. There needs to be more awareness.”


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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