Dani Harmer
She has spoken out about her harrowing five-day labor, which ultimately required an emergency cesarean section.
The 36-year-old actress, renowned for her
lead part in the CBBC television adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s book
The Story of
Tracy Beaker
In 2016, she embraced her role as a mother with her partner Simon Brough welcoming their first child. Their family expanded further when they had their second child, named Rowan, in 2022.
Discussing the “traumatic” arrival of her firstborn, Harmer shared that she was deeply concerned for both her infant’s well-being and her own safety.
Speaking to
Vanessa Feltz
On her Channel 5 program, Harmer stated, “My initial childbirth experience with Avarie-Belle was extremely distressing. She went into labor with Avarie-Belle for five days before having to undergo an emergency C-section—a process quite distinct from a scheduled one.”
She shared, “It was incredibly frightening. It wasn’t just terrifying for me; it also deeply affected my partner. In fact, witnessing everything made it even more traumatizing for him. He was scared about potentially losing both me and our child.”
Harmer mentioned that she doesn’t recall many details from the labor because various medications were administered by her physicians. She stated, “It was something I truly did not wish to endure again. Therefore, when we conceived our second child, I strongly considered opting for a scheduled cesarean section.”
I discovered that they were genuinely attempting to convince me to opt for a natural childbirth. I told them that unless they could assure me with absolute certainty that I would deliver naturally 100 percent of the time, I would prefer to have an elective cesarean.
The celebrity mentioned it took “an extremely long time” to move past the situation surrounding their first child before they chose to have a second one.
Rowan came into the world in February 2022, after her actor mother had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes one month prior to giving birth.
Gestational diabetes refers to elevated blood glucose levels that can occur at any point during pregnancy and typically vanishes following the birth of the child.
“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
It airs on Channel 5 from Monday to Friday at 11:30 AM.
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