Jess Wright says 'scary' change in baby's movements led to emergency C-section birth
Jess Wright has opened up about why her first child had to be delivered by emergency C-section five days before his due date.
The former TOWIE star, 36, was "so intent on having a natural birth" with husband William Lee-Kemp and mum Carol Wright by her side.
But her son Presley was delivered early at London's Portland Hospital on 17 May after Wright noticed the baby's movements had lessened and she was immediately admitted to hospital.
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"In those last few weeks, he had been so active and then, all of sudden, it [the movements] completely dropped, which was very scary, so our doctor told us to come straight to hospital," she told Hello! magazine.
After trying for 48 hours to induce the birth, medics "monitored him again and found his heart rate was dropping slightly," she said. "They thought he might be lying in an awkward position, so the sensible decision was to have an emergency C-section and get him out quickly".
A caesarean may be recommended as a planned (elective) procedure or done in an emergency if it's thought a vaginal birth is too risky, explains the NHS website.
Wright explained how she managed to adapt from what she had originally hoped for her birth, and embrace what was going to happen instead.
"I had been so intent on having a natural birth, and to go through that experience as I'd done all the hypnobirthing, but I had a sense of this is our destiny, this is how it is supposed to happen, and we accepted it, and then got excited that it was happening so quickly."
She added, "I felt like I had to be strong and positive and embrace it, rather than going in there panicking. It was the most incredible, surreal, overwhelming experience ever."
Little Presley (who had to be transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit because of his low oxygen levels), got his name as Wright had heard it from someone when she was eight weeks pregnant.
"I said to Will: 'We've found the name,' and he loved it", adding that his middle name is Stone, with the couple both loving that too because it's "so different".
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On being a first-time Mum, Wright told the magazine, "It has been amazing, but a whirlwind as well. It is such an intense, crazy time having your first child and not knowing what to expect."
"We are learning more every day," she added.
She said her brother, Mark Wright, "loves being an uncle, and now he has two little nephews to torment! [Jess is already an aunt to her footballer bother Josh's baby son]". Michelle Keegan, who is currently filming in Australia, is yet to meet Presley.
The star has also shared snippets of the new addition to their family on social media, saying "our little boy has already brought so much happiness to us, the love is indescribable", as well as a black and white image of his little foot, with the caption, "It’s official ~ Presley Stone Lee-Kemp".
Many celebrity pals, including Scarlett Moffatt, Rachel Stevens, Helen Flanagan, Lauren Pope, Mario Falcone, Kimberley Walsh, Ferne McCann and many more wished her well and commented how "beautiful" his arrival is.
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On another post of both Wright and Lee-Kemp holding his tiny hand, Gemma Collins commented, "Absolutely congratulations what beautiful parents you will be," while Stacey Solomon said, "Congratulations Jess", and Samantha Faiers, "Babies are just the most precious gift in the whole world, enjoy every single moment".
Meanwhile, her mum Carol left the special message, "My heart is complete, can not tell you how proud I am of you both, it was wonderful to experience the journey love you my baby girl. You did amazing, he is beyond beautiful. Happiest grandparents ever now to have two beautiful bubbas to love and cherish for ever."
Watch: 'My pain was ignored': Mother of baby who died at maternity unit said request for caesarean was refused
