Gemma Atkinson recently became a mum for the second time (Picture: Instagram)
Gemma Atkinson has revealed she was unable to have a vaginal birth as she welcomed her second child.
The actress, 38, and her Strictly Come Dancing professional fiancé Gorka Márquez, 32, welcomed an adorable baby boy on July 19.
They later revealed that their son’s full name is Thiago Thomas Marquez, and he’s the little brother to daughter Mia, who was born in 2019.
Gemma – who met Gorka on Strictly in 2017, despite not being partnered together – has now shared an update on exactly how her birth went, joking she’s ‘still intact and neat’.
Taking to Instagram, the radio presenter shared a smiley selfie taken from her hospital bed.
‘Lots of you have asked if I got my much hoped for VBAC….’, she wrote, referring to a Vaginal Birth after Caesarean, the term used when a woman gives birth vaginally, having had a caesarean birth in the past.
She originally had a C-section when she and Gorka Márquez welcomed daughter Mia in 2019 (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
She explained that the photo was taken on Monday, July 17, three hours after an elected C-section.
‘I didn’t get my vaginal birth. My waters broke and I went into labour and stayed at home for as long as possible (it helped that the Wimbledon men’s final was on!)’, she joked.
‘My contractions got down to every 6 mins or so and then slowly just stopped. We headed into the hospital 24hrs after my waters broke as they had changed colour a little. Thiago had opened his bowels. Thanks son! Already s****ing on me 🤦🏼♀️😂’, she added light-heartedly.
Gemma went on to say she was ‘given the choice of the artificial hormone to induce labour again or a section.’
‘Weeks ago we said if it came down to that we would 100% go with the section. I had the hormone injection with Mia and it was awful 😩 plus after that it ended up in an emergency C-section and PPH (postpartum haemorrhage) anyway.
Son Thiago was born on July 2019 (Picture: Instagram)
Gemma joked she’s still ‘intact’ after being unable to have a vaginal birth (Picture: Instagram)
‘This time was SO much more relaxed. It was actually a wonderful experience and it just so happened that the same surgeon who delivered Mia was on shift. So she delivered Thiago as well 🥹❤️’
On her recovery, she admitted things are still ‘tough’ after the ‘huge operation’.
However, she ‘couldn’t be happier’ with how things turned out.
‘It felt like somehow it was meant to be this way,’ she shared.
Gemma’s ‘incredible mum’ has now moved in with her and the children to help out, as Gorka is away rehearsing for the next series of Strictly.
‘I have to keep reminding her to stop buying me pastries!’, she quipped.
The former Hollyoaks star concluded with a cheeky comment.
Her mum has now moved in with her to help her through recovery while Gorka works away for Strictly (Picture: Instagram)
‘Our family is complete’, the celeb couple wrote after their son arrived (Picture: Instagram)
‘As I always do with every situation I’ve sat back and looked for a silver lining, which in this case, is after two babies, Gorka’s favourite pub is still very much intact. 😉😉
‘I take my hat off to any which way our babies are born. Vaginal or a section, theres no easy way. Pregnancy, labour and the 4th trimester is tough! But so are we 🙌🏼’
Taking to the comments, Spanish dancer Gorka was full of praise for his other half, writing: ‘❤️❤️ my super Mum’.
Her Strictly pals were also full of praise, with mum-to-be Janette Manrara commenting: ‘You are a superwoman, regardless of how he came into this world! So happy that he is well as are you! CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!! ✨🤍’
Fleur East wrote: ‘Yes!! 👏👏👏 amazing! You are blessed ❤️’
Gemma has kept her followers fully in the loop since becoming a mum for the second time, documenting both the highs and the hilarious lows.
Gemma has been keeping her followers updated on the trials and tribulations of motherhood (Picture: Instagram)
Most recently, she suffered a rather awkward breast milk blunder.
Over the weekend, the presenter had a big spillage – but not everyone was mad.
‘I spilt so much breast milk this morning’, she wrote on Insta.
‘Guess I didn’t clean it as well as I thought’, she added, alongside a clip of their two dogs happily licking the remains up off the floor!
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