Married At First Sight UK star Jess Potter has shared a harrowing account of the terrifying moment her eight-month-old daughter nearly died after choking on an earring. The reality television personality, aged thirty-three, who appeared on the E4 dating show in 2022, described waking in the night and bringing her infant daughter Mia into her bed for comfort.
A Night of Horror and Panic
After dozing back to sleep, Jess was abruptly awakened by a strange and unsettling noise. She immediately realised her child was in severe distress, choking silently. Recounting the horrifying ordeal with raw emotion, Jess stated: "Mia nearly f*****g died. So she woke early as I'm staying at mum's, so I pulled her in bed with me. Tom got out and left us in bed. Mia was awake but just laying. I obviously dozed off, then a weird noise woke me, her choking. Proper choking like that horrible silent choking."
Desperate Attempts to Save Her Daughter
In a state of sheer panic, Jess began frantically slapping Mia's back in a desperate bid to dislodge the object obstructing her airway. She elaborated: "I had no idea what was happening. I had her upside down and I was banging her back and I mean going for it for ages. Sat her up and she was still choking. I was screaming Tom's name, but he didn't come as he didn't hear me. I was smacking her back so hard she will probably have a bruise, went on for ages. Then eventually something flew out along with loads of blood."
The culprit was revealed to be an earring that Jess had lost earlier in the week. The mother assumed Mia had discovered the small jewellery item in the bed. Reflecting on the traumatic incident, Jess wrote: "Honestly, five minutes after I was hysterical it was so scary, she literally nearly died." She also shared a photograph of the earring in question on her social media platforms.
A Long-Awaited Miracle Baby
This frightening episode comes after Jess and her fiancé, TJ O'Reilly, welcomed their first child, Mia Jane O'Reilly, in July of last year. The dental hygienist endured an incredibly difficult path to motherhood, undergoing four gruelling rounds of IVF treatment. Jess has been openly candid about her battle with infertility, having previously suffered three heartbreaking miscarriages and experiencing a failed adoption process.
The Joyful Birth Announcement
Announcing the pregnancy in January, Jess shared an emotional video with her followers. She wrote: "After almost 3 years, 3 failed IVF cycles, 4 losses, and hundreds of injections… Our journey has been filled with heartache, hope, and resilience. But today, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude to share with you: Our miracle baby O'Reilly arriving July 2025! This little heartbeat is proof that dreams do come true, no matter how long the road may be."
She later shared the happy news of Mia's birth after twelve hours of labour and five days in hospital, posting an adorable picture of her newborn daughter. "After 5 days at hospital, 4 days in early Labour, 12 hours of active labour... a lot of screaming. I had the birth I've always wanted...," she wrote. "Mia Jane O'Reilly 6lbs 6oz born 4:51am 23rd July. You're perfect in every kind of way."
The Financial and Emotional Toll of IVF
Prior to her successful pregnancy, Jess set up a GoFundMe page in February of last year in an attempt to raise £10,000 for a fourth round of IVF treatment. She took to social media to explain that she and Tom were seeking public help after spending approximately £15,000 on three previous unsuccessful rounds, which resulted in three pregnancy losses.
Facing Criticism and Finding Support
In a heartbreaking development, Jess revealed she received abusive messages from some followers after announcing her fundraising efforts, with cruel critics branding her "a scrounger" and suggesting she should save her own money. Despite this criticism, the campaign garnered significant support, raising £1,825 from 164 donors within just seventeen hours of launching. Jess continues to be transparent about her fertility journey, documenting the process on her social media accounts.
On the GoFundMe page, Jess penned an emotional plea: "Hi, my names Jess and for the past 2 years me and my partner Tom have been trying for a baby. We have been unsuccessful... We have had IVF three times resulting in 3 pregnancy losses. We would love to have another go at having a family, as being parents is all we have ever wanted but, we have spent over £15K and have no more savings... All i've ever wanted is to be a mum and this has been the hardest 2 years of my life."
The recent choking scare with baby Mia has added another layer of trauma to Jess Potter's journey, highlighting the ongoing challenges and profound fears of parenthood after such a hard-fought battle to conceive.
