Louise Thompson shares snap of newborn son Leo in the NICU for the first time as he turns one
Louise Thompson shared a snap of her newborn son Leo in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for the first time on Tuesday to mark his first birthday.
The 32-year-old said she had ‘shed a few tears thinking about what today would’ve looked like if I hadn’t made it’ as she reflected on a tough year.
The former Made In Chelsea star suffers from PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying when she gave birth to her son in November 2021 who she shares with fiancé Ryan Libbey.
Reflecting: Louise Thompson shared a snap of newborn son Leo in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for the first time on Tuesday to mark his first birthday
Sharing a sweet snap of Leo in his adorable birthday pajamas she wrote in the caption: ‘Today might be tricky, but it’s the first of many amazing milestones/birthdays spent together.
‘I’m so proud of us and this champ for surviving our first year together. I’ve already shed a few tears thinking about what today would have looked like if I hadn’t made it.’
She added next to the snap of Leo in the NICU: ‘Today has been ok. I haven’t allowed my thoughts the chance to linger on ANY memories all day… until this evening when I put Leo down to sleep. I stared at him and then couldn’t help myself.’
Little one: The 32-year-old said she had ‘shed a few tears thinking about what today would’ve looked like if I hadn’t made it’ as she reflected on a tough year (Leo pictured in NICU)
‘So I’ve just had the most extensive look at pictures and videos from our months of ‘living hell’ trying to make sense of everything. It’s actually v interesting to look at some of the videos from in hospital. JUST WOW. There is actually a lot documented.
‘I asked Ryan if we could lie in bed and look at some stuff together. We have NEVER EVER done this.
‘Some of the images were too painful to click on. Ryan got a bit too overwhelmed.’
Mother: Sharing a sweet snap of Leo in his adorable birthday pajamas she wrote in the caption: ‘Today might be tricky, but it’s the first of many amazing milestones/birthdays spent together’
It comes after Louise admitted she was ‘nervous’ to throw her son Leo’s first birthday on Sunday as she gave her fans a glimpse of the big day on Instagram.
She revealed she ‘hasn’t entertained this year’. For the celebration, Louise said she sent out invitations quite last minute giving herself the time to back out if she need however, she ended up ‘enjoying’ the day.
The former reality star couldn’t contain her smile as she posed for a family snap with Ryan and their son Leo.
‘I wasn’t sure how I’d feel’: It comes after Louise admitted she was ‘nervous’ to throw her son Leo’s first birthday on Sunday as she gave her fans a glimpse on Instagram
Louise looked effortlessly chic in a pair of dark velvet trousers which she teamed with a brown jumper while her beau rocked a white T-shirt.
She opened up in the lengthy Instagram caption: ‘I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to hear that I was pretty nervous about throwing this party.
‘I haven’t entertained this year and I’ve never thrown a party for a child. I actually forgot to invite people until quite last minute because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel.
She revealed that she had actually ‘designed the invitations months ago in the hope’ she’d feel OK by the special day.
‘Nervous’: She revealed she ‘hasn’t entertained this year’ after suffering from PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying when she gave birth to baby Leo in November 2021
She penned: ‘Hosting used to make me feel nervy pre-trauma so this was a double whammy… although since having Leo I’ve learnt to let go of most of my perfectionist tendencies, which certainly helped.’
Louise admitted she had a ‘moment’ ahead of her guests arriving when she thought about cancelling but ‘counted down’ the clock until people arrived and ended up ‘actually enjoying’ the celebrations.
She said: ‘The moment people flooded through the door I was fine… that was always gonna be the case. As my psychiatrist used to say to me, ‘don’t think, just do’. Easier said than done when you’re stuck analysing your thoughts, but always better TO DO than ‘NOT DO’.
Incredible: Louise said she had a number of helping hands including from her brother Sam’s girlfriend and Love Island star Zara McDermott who spoilt Leo with a huge homemade cake
‘The thing is, I didn’t want to just ‘DO IT’, I wanted to actually ENJOY IT, because it was a v special occasion, marking a big milestone for me and my family.
‘The good news is that I had a fantastic time, with great company, and not a single tantrum in sight.’
Louise gave out a number of her top tips to throwing a party as her guests were treated to a music class, caterers, cake and a ball pit at the lavish children’s party.
‘Try to have FUN’: Louise opened up about ‘marking the big milestone’ in a lengthy Instagram caption as she gave fans a number of top tips to throwing a party
Ryan and Louise transformed their lounge into a ‘magical forest’ as the children enjoyed a toddlers music class by Hartbeeps.
Leo was spoilt with two incredible birthday cakes, one made by Louise’s brother’s, Sam Thompson, girlfriend Zara McDermott.
Former Love Island beauty Zara created a safari lion cake as she posed with her master piece in a chic beige knitted dress.
The family and friends sang happy birthday to the toddler as Louise held him near the eye catching cake and candles.
Looking good: Former Love Island beauty Zara created a safari lion cake as she planted a kiss on Leo’s cheek while donning a stylish knitted beige dress
She shared the adorable clip to her Instagram Story admitting she ‘can’t wait to show him this video when he’s older’.
Louise has endured a difficult year after she nearly died during her son Leo’s birth, who she shares with Ryan, and spent five weeks in hospital suffering with ‘serious complications’.
She has since been battling post-traumatic stress disorder and post-natal anxiety, admitting during one week in January that she cried up to 20 times.
The star has been honest with her fans about her daily struggles, revealing at points that the anxiety felt ‘inexplicable’ but now she’s learning to ‘make sense of it.’
Louise, who often calls son Leo her ‘little miracle baby’, manages to control her anxiety, and after obsessively checking her temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, is able to go about her normal, daily routine.
If you have been affected by this story please contact Birth Trauma Association at birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
For help and support with perinatal mental illness please contact PANDAS on 0808 1961 776
Family: Louise has endured a difficult year after she nearly died during her son Leo’s birth, who she shares with husband Ryan Libbey, and spent five weeks in hospital
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk