Big Brother alum Tilly Whitfeld, 25, has opened up about the severe birth trauma she endured while welcoming her first child with rugby player Tommy Latu, 24, in January.
Harrowing Delivery Details
In a recent Instagram video, Tilly cradled her son, Western Fonua Latu, as she described the ordeal. “I did not realise how common birth trauma is,” she shared. “I thought it was kind of like a unique and selfish experience. I’m obviously aware that people are struggling to have children and people would do anything to be pregnant.”
Tilly noted she had been told she could never have children, adding context to her gratitude amid the pain. She entered labor fearful of hospitals due to prior medical trauma from breast implants, expecting a natural birth.
Instead, after 20 hours of labor and two hours of pushing, doctors rushed her into an emergency C-section. “The epidural wasn’t working on one side. To get a spinal as well,” she recounted. “Had an asthma attack because I had pregnancy asthma, and a spinal and epidural makes your lungs do weird things. Then I was throwing up everywhere. I was shaking so violently. I have no memory of meeting him. None. Videos are all I have.”
Post-delivery, Tilly remained bedridden for six weeks and struggled mentally. “I was not well in the head after it,” she admitted.
Support from Other Mothers
Since sharing her story, Tilly has received direct messages from numerous women recounting similar difficult births. “I’m grateful to have a baby but also, in parallel, your experience can be messed up,” she said. “To the point you wouldn’t want another one.”
Pregnancy Announcement and Relationship Background
Tilly and Tommy announced their son’s arrival in January, captioning a post: “A 20-hour labour and two hours pushing ended in an emergency C-section, but our lives are changed forever.” The couple expressed thanks to midwives and doctors.
They revealed the pregnancy in August 2025 with a fun video showing a positive test and Tilly’s growing bump. Tommy joked, “Who did that?” pointing at her belly, followed by a montage of sharing the baby boy news with family.
The pair met four years ago while partying in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and went Instagram official in January 2022.
