Reality star rushed to hospital just days after giving birth and reveals she's been on a drip for three days
A REALITY TV star has been rushed back to hospital weeks after giving birth - and praised her partner as her "knight in shining armour."
The Made In Chelsea personality, who is married to fellow E4 show alum Oliver Proudlock, 36, likened her second maternity journey to being "in the trenches."
7
7
7
7
Emma Connolly, 33, who appeared in the show briefly, and her spouse share two children - Levi who was born in March, and Bonnie Lou, three.
Yet her post natal experience has suffered a setback three months after giving birth to her son and she took to Instagram to reveal she's in the medical ward.
It comes just days after her kids were in A&E with a sickness bug.
Emma captured an image of her spouse carrying two coffees to her hospital bed.
He proved the perfect multi-tasker, carrying little Levi strapped to his front and offering a beaming, get-well smile.
She wrote in her image caption: "My knight in shining armour," before adding a series of Emoji love heart icons.
Emma then posted an image of her baby sleeping and outlined her medical ordeal in text on top.
She told how she was admitted to hospital with "chronic pain" and "flu like symptoms" before she added: "I was diagnosed with acute mastitis and ended up spending three days on IV antibiotics."
Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk and you could even get PAID
She told how "absolutely incredible" Oliver was left at home to look after their toddler and baby.
Emma added: "It was honestly the hardest few days of my life and I really don't say that lightly.
Made In Chelsea's Oliver Proudlock reveals wife is pregnant with their second baby as she shows off bump
"But I'm so grateful for the amazing care I received and the amazing support from my Ol."
Another social media slide showed her hugging a private midwife, dubbed The Post Natal Package, as she sat propped up on the pillows of her hospital bed.
In a lengthy message, model Emma wrote: "I don't even know where to begin when it comes to this incredible woman.
"She was by my side for the birth of my son, supported me at home in those raw, early days and scooped me up without hesitation this week.
"I've called her more times than I can count, asking everything from 'is this poo the right colour?' to 'are my boobs going to blow off?' and never once did she make me feel silly or alone.
"She made me feel seen, supported, capable and confident when I needed it most.
"And she's made me laugh more times than I've cried, which is saying a lot.
"I truly adore her. She's been nothing short of an angel in my life."
Yet she rounded off her posts with an image showing her lying on the hospital bed, with her little boy resting on her stomach.
Emma is now back at home recovering.
BABY NO. 2
Emma and husband Proudlock welcomed Levi in March.
Announcing the news, proud dad Proudlock said: "He's here. Our hearts are fuller, our home louder, and our arms forever occupied.
"Levi Fox Proudlock, the perfect piece to complete our family of four."
The couple are already parents to daughter Bonnie Lou, who was born in May 2022.
Oliver and Emma began dating in 2014 when she messaged him on social media about his earring after he'd appeared on Made In Chelsea.
They announced their engagemen t in August 2018 after Oliver got down on one knee during a romantic trip to Gothenburg, Sweden.
The pair's wedding was postponed due to Covid lockdown regulations in 2020, with them eventually tying the knot during a small church ceremony in Fulham, London, on December 15 2020.
7
7
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd reveals 'shock' over soap awards snub as he reflects on his reaction during ceremony
Coronation Street star Jack P. Shepherd was left gobsmacked after being snubbed at this year's British Soap Awards – and his stunned reaction said it all. The 37-year-old, who has played David Platt since he was 12, had high hopes of adding a third gong to his shelf during Saturday night's star-studded event. But despite being one of the longest-serving and most recognisable faces on the cobbles, Jack lost out to Patsy Palmer and her Eastender's character Bianca Jackson. While he congratulated the winner, Jack couldn't help but reveal how 'shocked' he was and felt the award should have been his, as he declared the was 'fuming'. Speaking on his podcast On The Sofa with co-stars Ben Price and Colson Smith, the star admitted he couldn't hide his reaction when the camera panned on him. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The 37-year-old, who has played David Platt since he was 12, had high hopes of adding a third gong to his shelf during Saturday night's star-studded event but lost out to Patsy Palmer and her Eastender's character Bianca Jackson Colson said: 'You worked so hard to receive this Best Comedy nomination...' to which Jack replied: 'I have. 'I've been trying for years to get a nod for comedy cos I've never been nominated for it before.' Colson then probed: 'And how are you feeling about the result? Your frenemy...' Jack admitted: 'It was a shock. It was a shock. If you watched it, you will notice that my reaction is genuine. 'I'm completely blown away. I didn't win. I couldn't hide it.' Bursting into fits of laughter, Ben, 53, who plays Jack's onscreen brother Nick Tilsey joked: 'I was sat behind you and I'd gone. 'I couldn't think of anything more funny then not winning the comedy and then Patsy winning it who'd been in Big Brother with you - and then name checking you saying "I thought Jack would win"' To which Jack exclaimed: 'And then I said "So did I!"' Ben then asked: 'Were you fuming? Was that your fuming face?' 'Yeah' said Jack. 'I was just blown away. I was as much blown away as winning Big Brother as I was losing that award.' Speaking on his podcast On The Sofa with co-stars Ben Price and Colson Smith (pictured) Jack admitted while he congratulated the winner, he was 'shocked' and felt the award should have been his, as he declared the was 'fuming' Meanwhile Patsy left both the crowd and viewers at home in stitches during the British Soap Awards, as she went off in a tangent about vaginas during her award acceptance speech It was the BBC 's EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one. Meanwhile Patsy left both the crowd and viewers at home in stitches during the British Soap Awards, as she went off in a tangent about vaginas during her award acceptance speech. The actress, 53, won the prize for Best Comedic Performance at the annual ceremony, held on Saturday night at London 's Hackney Empire. As she took to the stage to accept the gong, Patsy got rather sidetracked, as she deliver an ode to vaginas, that had the audience breaking down into laughter. She made the X-rated remarks in reference to EastEnders' live 40th anniversary special, which saw Bianca having to help sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) give birth after they became trapped in the Queen Vic with cousin Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) following the explosion. The scene had viewers cracking up as Bianca and Lauren argued over who had to help, with both reluctant to get up close and personal with the birth. It culminated with Bianca taking a huge glug from a bottle of brandy for some liquid courage, before declaring the now-iconic line: 'It's only a noony Lauren!' Referencing the hilarious moment, Patsy began her speech: 'Listen I haven't prepared a speech, because I really thought Jack was gonna win. 'To be able to funny in all what of we've seen tonight is nothing short of miracle really. I'd like to thank Shona McGarty for leaving, because if she hadn't have left I wouldn't have come back. 'I wasn't expecting that and I'm so glad I did because then I stayed for the 40th and that was really where we celebrated the women's vagina!' However, Patsy didn't stop there, valiantly continuing on to add: 'I think vaginas have always been funny.' She then changed tone to express her thanks to show and even choked back her tears, as she gushed: 'All jokes aside, coming back to EastEnders after quite some time has been the most amazing experience for me and I'm so grateful. Beyond grateful. 'And I'm not going to cry, so I'm going to go, because it is a comedy award. But you really have no idea what a gift it's been for me to come back.' Viewer Voted Categories: Best British Soap: Coronation Street EastEnders - WINNER Emmerdale Hollyoaks Best Leading Performer: Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Villain of the Year: Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street) Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) - WINNER Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) Best Comedy Performance: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) - WINNER Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks) Panel Voted Categories: Best Family: The Platts (Coronation Street) The Slaters (EastEnders) The Dingles (Emmerdale) The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Dramatic Performance: Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) - WINNER Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Single Episode: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) - WINNER April's life on the streets (Emmerdale) Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks) Best On-Screen Partnership: Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) - WINNER William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks) Best Newcomer: Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street) Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Storyline: Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street) Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders) Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale) Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Young Performer: Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street) Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders) Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) - WINNER Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks) Scene of the Year: Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)
The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
My name's Ulrika Jonsson & I'm an alcoholic – I was on knees swigging a bottle at 11am then one day I made cry for help
MY name is Ulrika and I am an alcoholic. Not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips in just over a year. 7 7 For family and friends, it's been a cause for great celebration, it's viewed as a major feat. My eldest daughter even offered to take me out for a celebratory meal. For me, the run-up to this anniversary has been the cause of much trepidation and a sprinkling of fear. But, most of all, it's been a realisation. Because this is my life now. The day I surrendered and accepted I had a problem with alcohol, I knew I couldn't just give it up for a while. I knew I couldn't just cut back in the hope that I'd be cured, because alcoholism is a disease for which there is no cure. There is a solution, but there is no fix. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Even with my best friend calling me one Saturday morning to tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem, I refused despite the unbearable shame I felt. Alcoholics are selfish creatures. Yes, having a problem with alcohol meant I was an alcoholic. Even though I would NEVER have admitted it at the time. Then came June 5 last year. A hangover day much like any other, really. I sat on the sofa with my liver and brain pickled in equal measure, wrapped up in the blanket of shame, and something made me reach out for help. Ulrika Jonsson speaks out during Sober October about overcoming binge drinking I typed a message that read, quite simply: 'I can't do this any more' and sent it to a friend who was five years' sober. And that's how a life of sobriety saved my life and my sanity. There is every possibility I could have given up drinking by myself — my obstinance can be a virtue — but I wouldn't have been able to heal myself and reach the level of emotional sobriety I have today without the support of other ex-drunks and a programme to guide me. Saved my life It has saved my life in more ways than one. And, without sounding too evangelical about my journey, I've had a spiritual awakening and found an inner peace I never knew possible. I'm a different person to the Ulrika I was over a year ago. I've learnt more about myself in the past year than I did in my past 56 on this planet. Has it been easy? Nothing easily gained is ever worth having, I say. I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere. What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups At the beginning, I would look lovingly at a glass of red wine when I went out for a Sunday roast. But knowing that a drink would not make things better, and it would never just be the ONE, stopped me from picking it up. I found Christmas difficult initially and, disconcertingly, Easter was even harder, with family around me drunk and laughing at things that just weren't funny. I had a couple of dates earlier this year, when I knew the social lubricant of alcohol would have calmed my nerves and allowed me to hide beneath a veil of intoxication. But at least I was able to be my authentic self — to be more discerning and accept that these men were just not for me. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome. So, this journey goes on. It's not a destination. It will only end with my dying breath. I've yet to learn the exact damage my drinking might have inflicted on those around me. 7 7 I think of my children and how worried about me they were. How I must have scared them. How torn they must have been between wanting to say something and just hoping I would come to my senses. I have amends to make. I have character defects to accept and improve. I have to remember to live in the moment and that whether I'm one year or ten years' sober, for me it will continue to be one day at a time. I still have alcohol in the house. Removing it would make no difference to me. I believe if I really wanted a drink, I would go to buy it. I have no objections at all to others drinking around me but, by Christ, people can be annoying when drunk! At least it's not me doing the crazy stuff, dancing on the tables or doing things I will quickly forget or regret. Nor do I wake up with punishing hangovers and terrifying anxiety or even a new haircut because the rum thought it was a great idea to give myself a new look the night before. Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too. People without judgment who fundamentally care for you and understand you. That has been my greatest reward. Don't get me wrong, life has continued to throw me curveballs. I'm just better equipped to deal with them as a sober person. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome I have a history of alcoholics in my family on my mother's side, but I don't have decades of alcohol abuse behind me. I didn't become addicted after the first sip of Pimm's at the age of 14 when I first got drunk. My drinking history is quite unremarkable. It didn't result in me losing my job, my marriage, my children or even my driving licence. I didn't get arrested or end up in jail. I wasn't a vomiting mess that couldn't get her kids ready for school in the morning. I wasn't a violent drunk. Which is why it might be helpful for anyone else out there to note that alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes and many live among us in plain sight. But the few years running up to my decision to quit, I was clearly drinking for the wrong reasons and I had no control over my cravings. I was a binge-drinker who drank to black out. Heavy shame A perfect storm of life led me to self-medicate, to soothe away life's ills and sharp edges; to quell my crippling anxiety by drinking neat rum from the neck of the bottle while kneeling into the cupboard underneath the stairs. There is nothing quite as 'sobering' as admitting to dropping to your knees at 11am and sticking your lips around a bottle of 40 per cent alcohol; feeling it swiftly burn your throat and immediately extinguish your anxiety, fears and self-loathing. Drinking was 'my thing'. It was a personal and private activity I had all to myself. I foolishly believed it was harmless because it didn't affect anyone else, so it was nothing anyone could take away from me. And I loved it. It made me feel instantly better and helped me cope with life. It killed my feelings of being overwhelmed; it relaxed me and made me a much nicer person. I thought . . . See, the one thing I had established by the time my drinking got completely out of hand was that I simply wasn't cut out for life. 7 7 7 I just couldn't cope. Everyone else seemed on top of everything while I was constantly swimming against the tide. I was forever traipsing through fields of molasses; perpetually found myself on the battlefield of life utterly unarmed. I was just no good at it. While I made no specific plan to end my life, my hope was eventually that alcohol would destroy me. I was a solitary drinker. But what might have started out as fun very quickly, and without fail, ended in blackout. I couldn't just have the one drink. What weirdo does that? I wasn't seeking light inebriation. I wanted the full anaesthetic effect. My self-esteem and self-worth were so bad, I believed the drink would make me become someone else. Or better still, nothing at all. I had such crippling anxiety about the present and future, which was coupled with past ordeals, that I was desperate for my feelings just to STOP. Because I didn't initially drink every day, and because my life looked impeccable from the outside, I convinced myself there wasn't a problem. I was still in control. However, I know now that those close to me saw a different picture. They heard my slurred voice on the phone; saw my drunk eyes betray me; worried about my volatile and highly strung demeanour and mood swings. They grew tired of repeating things to me that my blackouts had erased. It took months to rid myself of the heavy shame that drinking brought. Now, I realise I was really ill — both physically and spiritually — and that makes me go a bit easier on myself. In short, I'm grateful to my alcoholism for bringing me to where I am today: a life of honesty and integrity; of clarity and calm and being the person I never believed I could be. My name is Ulrika and I'm an alcoholic. And I have chosen life.
The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
Only in UK could we be forced to pay for BBC then have to cough up for best TV on streaming services – it's got to stop
TURN on your TV today and you'll find schedules filled with true crime thrillers and celebrity reality shows or, at the other extreme, indulgent tripe pandering to Gen Z snowflakes. But unless the Big Five channels stop making so much b****ks and grow some balls, they're going to kill British TV as we know it. 5 5 5 Because BBC One and BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 — whose listings increasingly read like a suicide note — are entering the final stages of a fight for their survival. They're up against Netflix, Sky, Prime Video and countless other corporations with deep pockets and big ambitions. Proof came this week in the unlikely form of Blind Date, a much-loved TV format that was once on ITV but has now been snapped up by Disney+. Yeah, that's right, Disney+. Paying through nose Years ago, the subscription services started out providing an alternative to traditional telly, then they began copying the traditional providers and, recently, they've started stealing their big-name talent — Jeremy Clarkson, Emma Willis, Amanda Holden, Holly Willoughby. Now the Blind Date deal shows that the super streamers are literally out to thrash the Big Five at their own game. The gloves have come off . . . but the increased competition won't stop us paying through the nose. Only in Britain could we be forced by law to shell out for a home-grown broadcasting service, only to find the best TV shows are increasingly made by largely foreign-owned streamers. Then — in the ultimate rip-off — we have to cough up even more money to watch them. That's the enraging situation we find ourselves in in the year 2025. Although there are some notable exceptions on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, the consensus is that subscription services are now making the most electrifying programmes on the planet. Brassic Bids Farewell: Michelle Keegan's Final Series Think about it. Dramas including Adolescence, Baby Reindeer, Rivals, The White Lotus, Slow Horses. And consider the shows that have given us the biggest laughs over the past few years — hits like Last One Laughing, Ted Lasso, Brassic, Clarkson's Farm. None of the above was delivered by the traditional Big Five terrestrials. So, why can't the channels we already pay for make more of the TV that gets us excited? The obvious response from the top UK channels would be that they are still giving us blockbusters — Strictly, I'm A Celebrity, Bake Off, The Traitors, Love Island and dramas like Happy Valley or Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. 5 They are all, to be fair, brilliant. But so much of it is old now. It's predictable. And the new hits are few and far between. Though the streamers obviously have pots of cash to spend, it's not just a money problem either. Look no further than the recent co-production between Disney+ and the BBC on Doctor Who. It's easy to understand why other shows that are laden with CGI and big Hollywood stars end up on the streamers, but why is it that comedies like Ted Lasso never seem to pop up on ITV? Rod It was, by most people's standards, an unmitigated disaster. The studio giant pumped millions into cutting-edge special effects, sets that dazzled rather than wobbled and genuinely monstrous monsters. And what did the BBC do? They squandered it by turning a sci-fi classic into a series of woke lectures that had viewers turning off in droves. Now the Disney+ deal is hanging in the balance and they're having to bring back David Tennant. It's easy to understand why other shows that are laden with CGI and big Hollywood stars end up on the streamers, but why is it that comedies like Ted Lasso never seem to pop up on ITV? ITV, by the way, recently spent millions launching The Genius Game, with David Tennant as host, only to end up with one of their most expensive flops in years. And the one thing I thought while watching the brilliant, gritty drama Adolescence was, this could easily have been done by Channel 4. Neither Adolescence nor Ted Lasso would have cost that much to produce, surely? It's not Star Wars or Bridgerton. Pure extortion Part of the problem, it seems, is that a lot of creatives and execs now don't just chase the money — they also chase trends and credibility. At last month's TV Baftas, around a third of the nominations went to streamers — a figure that's been growing rapidly over the past decade. That, too, could reach a tipping point in a couple of years. The solution is glaringly obvious, but not easy. If Disney+ steal Blind Date, come up with the next Blind Date. If they lose Clarkson to Prime Video, find the next Jeremy. If Netflix do Bridgerton, come up with another twist on the period drama. They need to stop the rot in terrestrial telly, because one day a cluster of these streamers will start offering a one-price-buys-all subscription deal that will make the licence fee look like pure extortion. Then public service broadcasting's days really will be numbered.
