Emily Atack has opened up about the painful health struggle she faced after giving birth to her son Barney, revealing she suffered from sepsis following a difficult pregnancy and birth.
The Rivals actress, 36, welcomed her first child in 2024 with fiancé Alistair Garner. But behind the happiness of becoming a mother, Emily says she went through an extremely traumatic period that left her unable to leave the house for weeks.
Speaking to Grazia, Emily said she was criticised for her body while pregnant — and is now being criticised again after losing weight.
“I was trolled for being enormous when I was pregnant and I’m now trolled for having lost weight,” she said.
Emily explained that her body carries both the joy and trauma of motherhood, adding that her post-birth illness was “awful.”
She said: “I went through a very difficult pregnancy. I was very ill after the birth. I had sepsis, I couldn’t leave the house for weeks.”
The actress has recently faced speculation online that she used weight-loss injections after sharing photos of her slimmer figure. But Emily has strongly pushed back against the comments, asking for more patience and understanding.
“Women’s bodies change all the time,” she said. “I am so done with defending it.”
Emily confirmed she is now feeling much better and is looking forward to marrying Alistair in September.
She has also spoken honestly about the pressure women face after childbirth, saying society often focuses too quickly on “getting back in shape” instead of celebrating what a mother’s body has just been through.
For Emily, the message is clear: her body has carried life, illness, recovery, happiness and pain — and she no longer wants to apologise for how it changes.
