Kellie Bright, 42, joined the cast of the BBC’s Eastenders back in 2013, and three years into her career on the show she announced she was expecting her second child with long-term partner Paul Stocker. The actress gave birth to her second son, Gene, on 21 November that year but the birth didn’t come problem free. In January 2017, Bright opened up how she was almost forced to undergo an episiotomy following suspected complications during the birth. The actress admitted there were talks about needing another procedure involving having to cut the area between the vagina and anus to enlarge the vaginal opening.
Speaking to OK! magazine she said: “At one point there were whispers of having to give me an episiotomy and I definitely didn’t want that!
“There was also talk of them using a ventouse but luckily I managed to deliver without needing either of them.”
Bright’s husband, Paul, revealed fears over their newborn son’s health after doctors noticed issues with his breathing.
“There were some concerns about his breathing.
“He was breathing too quickly so he was taken off to the special baby unit for monitoring, but as soon as he arrived there his breathing had settled right back down,” he explained.
An episiotomy is sometimes recommended in certain cases of childbirth. The procedure is an incision made in the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opting and the anus, during childbirth.
In some births, an episiotomy can help to prevent a severe tear or speed up delivery if the baby needs to be born quickly
NHS
Although it was once a routine part of childbirth, this is no longer the case. The NHS said: “Sometimes a woman’s perineum may tear as the baby comes out.
“In some births, an episiotomy can help to prevent a severe tear or speed up delivery if the baby needs to be born quickly.
“Studies suggest that in first-time vaginal births, it’s more common to have severe injuries involving the rectum or anal muscle if the perineum tears spontaneously rather than if an episiotomy is performed.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that an episiotomy should be considered if the baby is in distress or if there is a clinal need, such as a delivery that needs forceps or ventouse.
“A midwife can help to avoid a tear during labour when the baby’s head becomes visible.
“The skin of the perineum usually stretches well during childbirth, but it may tear, especially in women who are giving birth for the first time.
“Research suggests massaging the perineum in the last few weeks of pregnancy to reduce the chances of having an episiotomy during birth,” said the NHS.
Bright is the proud mum of two boys, Freddie and Gene. Bright and her grandmother had been big fans of Gene Kelly hence her children’s names.
In 2015, Bright was runner-up in the 13th series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing.
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