Reality television personality Louise Thompson has opened up about the intense physical and emotional toll of her first round of IVF, revealing she is left 'exhausted' and constantly visualising 'embryos dancing around'.
A Gruelling Start to the Year
The 35-year-old former Made In Chelsea star shared a candid update with her followers, posting a gallery of family photos alongside partner Ryan Libbey and their son, Leo. She described the beginning of the year as overwhelming, stating she felt too drained to even compile the social media post for over a week.
'When I shut my eyes with the ‘hormonal crash’ all I can see is embryos dancing around,' Louise wrote. She humorously added, 'I really think that dancing is the answer to all my problems, but if only my embryos could dance as well as me… and Leo.'
A Complex Medical History Fuels Anxiety
Thompson's journey to expand her family comes after a series of severe health challenges. In 2021, she nearly died giving birth to Leo via an emergency caesarean, during which she lost a staggering 12 and a half litres of blood.
This traumatic event led to PTSD and post-natal anxiety. Her health struggles continued with diagnoses of Lupus and Asherman's syndrome, a second haemorrhage, and the fitting of a stoma bag. These complications have made her subsequent fertility journey profoundly complex.
In a recent TikTok video, Louise detailed the difficult side effects of the IVF process, describing feeling 'disgusting', 'heavy', and 'sore' with a fever. She admitted to suffering through a night of 'agony' without pain relief, fearing paracetamol might affect egg quality, before resorting to a microdose of children's Calpol.
Focusing on Hope Amid the Exhaustion
Despite the hardship, Louise expressed relief after a clinic scan confirmed a plan for egg retrieval. 'I just feel really relieved that there’s a timeline and a plan,' she said. She has previously stated her hope to welcome another child in 2026, acknowledging she and Libbey are 'finally feeling ready' though 'afraid' of the complicated path ahead.
Louise's update also touched on the hectic balance of life during treatment, mentioning she had 'managed an IVF cycle, obsessed over cell division' and dealt with her son's bout of Scarlet fever, all while trying to maintain some normality with walks and social events.
The TV star's openness extends to past sorrows, having previously shared details of a miscarriage she suffered in 2020 before Leo's birth. Her current journey highlights the resilience required for many navigating fertility treatments alongside ongoing health battles.
