Helen Flanagan admits she can’t have another baby ‘for a very long time’ after hyperemesis ordeal

She welcomed her third child, a son called Charlie, in March with footballer fiancé Scott Sinclair.

And Helen Flanagan has told how she would have to wait ‘a very long time’ if she decided to have another baby due to her suffering badly with hyperemesis gravidarum as she feared she wouldn’t be able to look after her children properly if she had it again.

Speaking on Tuesday’s Loose Women, the former Coronation Street star, 30, explained how she was struck down with the ‘horrendous’ condition through each of her pregnancies and detailed just how much it affected her body. 

Delay: Helen Flanagan has told how she would have to wait ‘a very long time’ if she decided to have another baby due to her suffering badly with hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum, which Kate Middleton also suffered from, is characterised by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss and possibly dehydration.      

Sharing her experience with the extreme morning sickness, the mother-of-three explained: ‘It got worse with each pregnancy. It was worth everything but it was horrendous.  

‘As soon as I found out I was pregnant with Charlie, I said to my mum I hope I don’t get Hyperemesis. I hope I’m OK. 

‘I had to live with my mum and dad for three, four months. I couldn’t look after them. Now I’m not pregnant I feel like a normal mum again, I have loads of energy which is lovely.’

Tough: Speaking on Tuesday's Loose Women, the former Coronation Street star, 30, explained how she was struck down with the 'horrendous' condition through each of her pregnancies and detailed just how much it affected her body (pictured while pregnant with Charlie)

Tough: Speaking on Tuesday’s Loose Women, the former Coronation Street star, 30, explained how she was struck down with the ‘horrendous’ condition through each of her pregnancies and detailed just how much it affected her body (pictured while pregnant with Charlie)

Helen, who also has daughters Matilda, five, and Delilah, two, added: ‘I had medication that worked with Delilah but I was just immune with Charlie. You’re constantly sick but it makes you feel low as well, you’re so on your own. 

‘I couldn’t have the lights on, I couldn’t watch the TV, the lights would just make me feel sick. We’re so lucky to have a baby but Hyperemesis is a tough one.’

When asked whether her hyperemesis ordeal would put her off adding to her brood, Helen, who showed off baby Charlie on the show, responded: ‘Scott will be watching this and be like no! 

‘I love having babies but when I think of the Hyperemesis, I couldn’t have another for a very long time because I wouldn’t be able to look after them, my poor mum would be looking after everyone.’

'Horrendous': Sharing her experience with the extreme morning sickness, the mother-of-three explained: 'It got worse with each pregnancy. It was worth everything but it was horrendous

‘Horrendous’: Sharing her experience with the extreme morning sickness, the mother-of-three explained: ‘It got worse with each pregnancy. It was worth everything but it was horrendous

More? When asked whether her hyperemesis ordeal would put her off adding to her brood, Helen, who showed off baby Charlie on the show, responded: ‘Scott will be watching this and be like no!

Meanwhile, the TV personality spoke about a possible return to Coronation Street and revealed that she was previously in talks to reprise her role as Rosie Webster before she fell pregnant again.

She said: ‘As soon as my fiance moved back to play for Preston I was in talks with Corrie about going back there, but then I fell pregnant with Charlie and I had to tell them in my meeting I was pregnant. 

‘I’d love to go back, I miss the excitement of the show, but then I’m really enjoying the children being young and being at home with them.’ 

Difficult: 'I love having babies but when I think of the Hyperemesis, I couldn’t have another for a very long time because I wouldn’t be able to look after them, my poor mum would be looking after everyone'

Difficult: ‘I love having babies but when I think of the Hyperemesis, I couldn’t have another for a very long time because I wouldn’t be able to look after them, my poor mum would be looking after everyone’

Illness: 'I couldn’t have the lights on, I couldn’t watch the TV, the lights would just make me feel sick. We’re so lucky to have a baby but Hyperemesis is a tough one'

Illness: ‘I couldn’t have the lights on, I couldn’t watch the TV, the lights would just make me feel sick. We’re so lucky to have a baby but Hyperemesis is a tough one’

Helen’s words come after she previously ruled out having any more children after the birth of her third baby after the hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms put her off.

Speaking to Fabulous magazine earlier this year, she said: ‘I always really wanted four children, but after the hyperemesis this time, I could never go through it again. So the decision about having more children after this one has been taken out of my hands, really. 

‘It’s funny, I always thought if I knew I was carrying my last baby I would feel really sad about it, but because of what happened, I don’t see it like that. I see it as a positive decision and one I’m completely happy with.’

Helen was forced to move back in with her parents while she was suffering with the condition as she needed help looking after daughters Matilda and Delilah while fiancé Scott went to work. 

Enough: Helen's words come after she previously ruled out having any more children after the birth of her third baby after the hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms put her off

Enough: Helen’s words come after she previously ruled out having any more children after the birth of her third baby after the hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms put her off

Ordeal: The actress has suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and revealed the symptoms have put her off having more children

Ordeal: The actress has suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and revealed the symptoms have put her off having more children

She said: ‘It started as soon as I found out I was pregnant and I was in and out of hospital where they would give me anti-sickness jabs.

‘I wasn’t able to look after the girls because I literally couldn’t get my head off the pillow. I was constantly being sick and couldn’t keep anything down.’ 

Helen added that she found it ‘so tough’ being bed-bound for so long and couldn’t even have the lights on at home because they made her feel dizzy. 

Family: Helen was forced to move back in with her parents while she was suffering with the condition as she needed help looking after daughters Matilda and Delilah while fiancé Scott went to work

Family: Helen was forced to move back in with her parents while she was suffering with the condition as she needed help looking after daughters Matilda and Delilah while fiancé Scott went to work

WHAT IS HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM?

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is defined as severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Celebrities who’ve been open about their own battles with HG include:

  • The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton 
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kourtney Kardashian
  • Debra Messing
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • Tia Mowry
  • Tori Spelling 
  • Amy Schumer 

It affects up to two percent of pregnant women.  

HG symptoms usually appear between weeks four and six and peak at 9-to-13 weeks.

Up to 20 per cent of sufferers experience symptoms up to weeks 14-to-20, however, most have relief in the later stages.

Unlike morning sickness, which affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, HG causes severe dehydration and prevents sufferers from keeping any food down.

Other symptoms include:

  • Losing five percent or more of their pre-pregnancy weight
  • Reduced urination
  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Fainting
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Loss of skin elasticity
  • A rapid heart rate  

Some HG cases require hospitalization where women can receive IV fluids and nutrition. 

HG’s cause was thought to be hormonal, however, research suggests it may be due to genetic variations.

Source: American Pregnancy Association