Christy Turlington: I would have died giving birth if I wasn't a rich Western model | Mail Online

Christy Turlington is using her fame to promote maternal health

Settling back into plump pillows to feed her newborn baby, with actor husband Edward Burns at her side, supermodel Christy Turlington was in a state of elation after the birth of her first child, Grace.

She had delivered naturally, without even the need of pain relief.

Everything had gone according to plan  -  or so she thought.

In fact, Christy was quickly developing a life-threatening complication that affects one in 20 British women.

The placenta had become embedded into her uterus wall, causing her to bleed heavily, and this potential tragedy, which happened to Christy seven years ago in a New York birthing centre, effectively reshaped the rest of her life.

Thanks to swift medical intervention, she survived, but many women are not so fortunate. About 1,000 deaths worldwide each day are attributed to bleeding after birth, also known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

Realising just how lucky she was to have narrowly missed becoming a maternal mortality statistic, Christy  -  who has been the face of Calvin Klein, Maybelline and Versace  -  immersed herself in humanitarian issues, campaigning to get the best care for pregnant women in poverty-stricken circumstances who do not have the quality of care she received.

'I had a perfect pregnancy with Grace,' says Christy, 41. 'Your first child is unknown territory. You don't know how your body will deal with what's going on, so I was very careful to look after myself.

'But I was lucky because everything was straightforward. I had some cravings, mainly for avocados and lemonade. I cannot remember how much weight I put on but it was not too much or too little, and I was lucky enough not to suffer any morning sickness. I thoroughly enjoyed the pregnancy.

'Ed and I agreed that we wanted to have our baby in a birthing centre attached to St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital near our home in New York City.

'We talked to the obstetrician there who would be with us in the event of an emergency. After giving us a tour of the centre, he said,"Don't worry  -  you'll most likely never see me again."Famous last words.'

Christy had considered having a water birth but the birthing centre did not offer this because of possible hygiene problems. The couple were told that if they were set on this type of birth, they would have to hire a birthing pool at home. They decided against it which, as it turned out, was just as well.

The baby was due on October 8, 2003, four months after Christy and Ed, 42, were married. But the baby did not arrive on time. 

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