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Dani Harmer has opened up about her terrifying five-day labour, which resulted in an emergency caesarean.
The 36-year-old actor, who is known for her starring role in the CBBC TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s novel The Story of Tracy Beaker welcomed her first child with her partner Simon Brough in 2016 and waited six years to have her second baby, Rowan in 2022.
Harmer revealed both she and Brough feared that she and their first born would lose their lives during the lengthy labour, which took the star “a really long time to get over” before having her second child.
Speaking to Vanessa Feltz on her Channel 5 show, Harmer said: “I had a really traumatic first birth, with my first Avarie-Belle. I was in labour with her for five days which then resulted in an emergency cesarean - which is very different to an elective one.”
She explained: “It was really really scary. Not just for me but for my partner as well. I think it was more traumatic for him because he had to witness the whole thing. And it was scary for him thinking that he might not only lose his baby but he might lose me as well.”
Harmer said she didn’t remember much of the labour as she was placed on numerous different drugs by doctors. “But it was an experience I really didn’t want to have to repeat, so when we fell pregnant with my second, I really wanted to go for an elective caesarean,” she reflected.
“I found that they were really trying to persuade me to go for a natural birth and I said to them unless you can guarantee me that I’m going to give birth naturally, one hundred percent, then otherwise I will want an elective one.”
Harmer and Brough’s second child, Rowan, was born in February 2022, with the actor revealing she had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes a month before she gave birth for the second time.
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that can develop at any time during pregnancy and usually disappears after the baby is born.
“Not quite how I wanted to end this pregnancy but super glad we found out when we did, Harmer wrote on Instagram at the time.
“Newly diagnosed gestational diabetes so any tips are welcome! Sending love to those who've had it throughout their pregnancy.”
Vanessa airs on Channel 5 on weekdays at 11.30am
English (US) ·