Ectopic pregnancy ‘nearly killed’ Corrie star’s wife
CORONATION Street star Simon Gregson and wife Emma have revealed their heartbreak over their 12 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy which left her hours from death.
Simon and Emma are proud parents to three sons, but growing their family hasn’t been easy.
They have spoken to this week’s OK! Magazine of their heartache over recent years with 12 miscarriages – which included an ectopic pregnancy last September which meant Emma needed emergency surgery to save her life.
Emma had been having severe stomach pains and feeling ill for a couple of weeks, but she thought it was constipation. One morning the pains got so bad Emma ‘couldn’t stand up,’ so Simon rushed her to hospital where they discovered she was suffering from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
Emma said: “Up to that point we didn’t know I was pregnant so it came as a double blow to us. It was hard to get our heads around what was happening. I was petrified. I thought I was never going to see my sons ever again.’
“As they were taking me down to theatre I just kept thinking, I’m going to die – this is it, I’m not going to make it. As they were prepping me for surgery I had to keep signing lots of forms. I just felt devastated and so overwhelmed. It was the most frightening time I’ve ever had.
Simon, who plays Corrie’s Steve McDonald, said: “They told me Emma would’ve died if it had been left for a few more hours. She was literally two hours away from death.”
The couple hope to raise awareness of ectopic pregnancy by speaking about their experience.
Emma said: “The stigma has been removed from having miscarriages, but ectopic pregnancy isn’t discussed enough – I didn’t really know anything about it.
“The more you talk, the more you can help other people and spot the signs. It’s such a dangerous condition.”
The couple have now made the difficult decision to not try for any more children – even though Emma had desperately wanted a little girl to complete their family.
Simon said: “I would love her to have one – but now, after nearly losing her, I’m going in and having the snip.”
Emma adds: “Every time I found out I was pregnant, I never felt joyous. I would just fear the worst. I don’t think my mind or body could do it any more.”
Simon was involved in one of Corrie’s most heart-breaking storylines in 2017 when his character Steve and his wife Michelle Connor suffered the stillbirth of their baby son Ruari.
It was a hugely significant story for both Simon and his costar Kym Marsh who have both had to deal with the death of babies themselves.
But the storyline won huge acclaim, and raised awareness for the issues with thousands seeking help from charities after the scenes aired on the soap.
Read the full interview with Simon and Emma in this week’s OK! Magazine – out now.