Gemma Atkinson was left unable to brush her hair after undergoing a painful C-section.
Gemma Atkinson on Women's Health magazine
The former 'Emmerdale' actress was left fighting for her life as she gave birth to her daughter Mia - who she shares with her 'Strictly Come Dancing' star boyfriend Gorka Marquez - when she underwent an emergency C-section last July, and she admitted it "completely floored" her and she wasn't able to exercise for several weeks after.
Speaking to the latest issue of Women's Health magazine - for which she proudly displayed her post-pregnancy body on the cover - she said: "The C-section completely floored me; I couldn't brush my hair I was in so much pain ... for me, it wasn't sensible to start exercising until around 15 weeks after Mia was born."
The 35-year-old star also opened up about how her body has changed since giving birth, and admitted it's not any "better or worse", but she is "happy" with how she looks.
She said: "It's changed after having a baby ... my body is not better or worse, just different.
"Maybe it's important to show that to other women?
"I was always straight up and down, like a surfboard, but now I've got a bit of a waist.
"When I put on high-waisted jeans, you can see I've got hips.
"I reckon I'm about 3 per cent J-Lo now, so I'm happy with that."
Gemma previously took to Instagram to reveal the story of her dramatic childbirth experience, admitting things "could have gone very differently".
She shared: "I was having a haemorrhage. A big one & I lost a lot of blood. (sic)"
The ex-'Hollyoaks' star then lifted the lid on her terrifying ordeal, writing on the photo-sharing platform: "Mia was a tiny baby, 4lb 10. With that in mind the midwife was concerned she wouldn't be strong enough to open my cervix.
"My water broke on a tues & we gave her the benefit of the doubt but by the Wednesday evening despite her being in the perfect place & so low down, she still hadn't managed it.
"The decision was made to induce me to help her along but she disliked that even more. With every contraction her heart rate dropped.
"On the 3rd one midwife Katie who was taking care of me at the time pressed the panic alarm & within 15 mins I was rushed out, prepped & delivered Mia via an emergency C section.
"It wasn't what I'd planned but thanks to my hypnobirthing despite the madness & panic, I was able to calmly keep my breathing technique & accept whatever is best for Mia just do it! (sic)"
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