Reality television personality Louise Thompson has candidly described feeling "disgusting and sore" as she begins a challenging IVF journey, driven by her hope to have a second child. The 35-year-old star is navigating the fertility treatment after suffering life-altering health complications following the traumatic birth of her first son.
A Harrowing Birth and Lasting Trauma
Louise's desire to expand her family comes after she almost died giving birth to her son Leo in 2021. The delivery required an emergency caesarean during which she lost a staggering 12 and a half litres of blood. This near-death experience triggered severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postnatal anxiety.
Her health struggles continued well beyond the birth. Louise has since been diagnosed with Lupus and Asherman's syndrome, suffered a second haemorrhage, and has had to have a stoma bag fitted. These ongoing conditions make her path to a second pregnancy profoundly complex.
The Physical Toll of IVF Treatment
In a recent, emotional update shared on TikTok, Louise detailed the difficult physical side effects of the IVF process. "I have had a really rank 24 hours," she explained, adding that she didn't want to dwell on the negativity given her "complicated four years."
She revealed she was on the eve of her "trigger night," with eggs scheduled for retrieval on Tuesday morning. While she felt excitement, her body was struggling. "I feel like a brick s**t house. I feel disgusting, I feel heavy, I feel sore and I’ve had a fever for 24 hours," she said.
Louise admitted she hid the fever from her clinic, fearing it would cancel the cycle. She also endured a night of "agony" after avoiding paracetamol, unsure if it would affect her egg quality, before resorting to a microdose of children's Calpol.
Looking Forward with Hope and Fear
Ahead of the new year, Louise shared that she and her partner, Ryan Libbey, are "finally feeling ready" to welcome another child and hope to expand their family. However, she has openly acknowledged being "afraid" of the "complicated" journey ahead.
Due to the severe damage caused by her first birth, she has previously stated she is likely unable to carry another baby herself. The star has also bravely spoken about suffering a miscarriage in 2020, prior to Leo's birth.
Despite the pain and anxiety, Louise expressed relief after a reassuring scan and having a clear plan. She is now focused on the careful timing of her final trigger shots before the egg retrieval, a critical step in her fertility journey.
