Louise Thompson: Birth Emergency, Stoma Bag, Advocacy

Most people know Louise Thompson as the reality star from Made in Chelsea, but in the past few years she has become a vocal advocate for maternal health and inflammatory bowel disease awareness after a near-death birth experience and living with a stoma bag. In April 2024, she revealed on Instagram that a stoma bag had “saved my life,” after years of battling ulcerative colitis (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).

Condition: Ulcerative colitis ·
Surgery: Stoma bag ·
Birth event: Postpartum hemorrhage ·
TV show: Made in Chelsea

Six data points capture the arc of Thompson’s public life and private ordeal:

What exactly happened to Louise Thompson?

The birth emergency

• On 15 November 2021, Thompson underwent an emergency caesarean after her son Leo’s head became lodged in her pelvis (The Ribbon Box, parenting blog). During the procedure, an artery was nicked and her uterus ruptured (The Ribbon Box, parenting blog).
• She lost 3.5 litres of blood in that surgery and later lost an additional 5.5 litres in a second hemorrhage at home (YouTube, interview transcript). The Times reported that she watched herself bleeding to death for three hours on the operating table (The Times, UK newspaper).

Aftermath and recovery

• Thompson spent time in intensive care and her baby also stopped breathing, requiring neonatal intensive care (The Ribbon Box).
• The ordeal left her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which she has discussed openly (Women’s Health UK).

The implication: Thompson’s story is a public lesson in the speed of medical emergencies and the long recovery that follows.

What illness does Louise Thompson have?

Ulcerative colitis

• Thompson was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, in 2018 (Women’s Health UK, health magazine). She has said the condition caused severe symptoms for years before the stoma surgery.
• The disease attacks the colon lining, causing bleeding, pain, and urgent bowel movements. For Thompson, it eventually required surgical intervention.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• In interviews, Thompson has described recurrent nightmares and panic attacks linked to her childbirth trauma (The Independent, UK news outlet).
• She now campaigns for better mental health support for mothers who experience birth trauma.

The pattern: Two chronic conditions—one physical, one psychological—each treated publicly as a way to destigmatize them for others.

Does Louise have a stoma bag?

Reasons for the stoma bag

• Yes. In April 2024, Thompson revealed she had undergone surgery to fit a stoma bag (ileostomy) after years of battling ulcerative colitis (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• The procedure followed “major surgery and intensive care” according to Women’s Health UK.

Life with a stoma

• She called the bag “the price I pay for good health” on Instagram (The Independent, UK news outlet). Sky News reported she described it as “the grey bag that may well have saved my life” (Sky News, UK news broadcaster).
• She shares photos of her stoma to normalize the device, which has inspired thousands of comments from IBD patients.

What this means: For many with ulcerative colitis, the stoma represents a difficult but life-changing decision made visible by Thompson’s public stance.

Who is Louise Thompson with now?

Her partner Ryan Libbey

• Thompson has been in a relationship with personal trainer Ryan Libbey since 2016. They co-host the podcast He Said, She Said.
• Despite her health crises, the couple remains together and has one son. Thompson has described Ryan as her “rock” during her ICU stay (The Independent, UK news outlet).

Family life

• The couple’s son, Leo, was born in November 2021. Thompson has spoken about the challenges of parenting while recovering from major trauma.
• She is also close friends with fellow Made in Chelsea star Zara McDermott, who has publicly supported her.

What this means: Stability in a private life often disrupted by medical emergencies. Libbey’s presence is a consistent factor in Thompson’s public narrative.

How rich is Louise Thompson?

Income from TV and social media

• Thompson’s earnings began with Made in Chelsea, where she was a main cast member from 2011 to 2016 and sporadically after.
• She has built a significant social media following, with brand partnerships in fashion, beauty, and wellness.

Book and podcast ventures

• She authored a book (details not publicly confirmed by major publishers) and co-hosts He Said, She Said, which likely generates additional income through advertising and sponsorship.
• Exact net worth is not publicly documented, but estimates typically place it between £500,000 and £2 million, derived from television, endorsements, and media appearances.

The catch: Without verified financial disclosures, these figures remain speculative. Thompson’s net worth is less transparent than her health story.

Timeline

• 2011 – Joins Made in Chelsea cast (Wikipedia)
• 2018 (estimated) – Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (Women’s Health UK)
• 15 November 2021 – Emergency caesarean; severe postpartum hemorrhage (The Times)
• 2024 – Stoma surgery and public revelation (ABC News Australia)
• 2024–2025 – Launches advocacy campaign for maternity rights and IBD awareness (ABC News Australia)

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Quotes from Louise Thompson

“It’s the price I pay for good health.”

Louise Thompson, on her stoma bag — The Independent, UK news outlet

She described it on Instagram as “the grey bag that may well have saved my life” (Sky News, UK news broadcaster).

She told The Times she “watched myself bleeding to death for three hours” (The Times, UK newspaper).

“She’s the strongest person I know.”

Ryan Libbey on Thompson’s recovery — The Independent, UK news outlet

Summary

Louise Thompson’s transformation from reality TV star to health advocate is not a redemption arc—it’s a survival narrative backed by data, surgery scars, and public vulnerability. For British women facing birth trauma or IBD, the choice is clear: stay silent or speak up, as Thompson did, and risk stigma to change care standards. For Thompson, the choice meant a stoma bag, a public platform, and a second chance at life. For her followers, it means a model of advocacy that demands better from the NHS and society.

Frequently asked questions