When Denise first became
ill she tried to find
information of post-natal depression but had
little luck. As a result, she is adamant about
the need for more literature
on the subject
to be made available.
Denise’s illness put a tremendous strain
on her
marriage to Auf Weidersehen,
Pet star Tim, who admits that there
were
moments when he felt as though
he could no longer carry on. “Some
nights I’d go into the garden and
scream. I felt I’d lost my
wife,” he says
Tim and Denise share a toast to the upcoming
addition to
their family. “Although this
time I will be 12 years older and more
tired, it will be such a joy if I can get up
in the middle of the night
and just think:
I can’t believe this baby is crying again…’
”
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Putting behind them the trauma of the depression she
suffered for years after the birth of their son
DENISE WELCH
AND
TIM HEALY
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look
forward to the arrival of their second child - and announce it’s a
boy
Coronation Street’s Denise Welch,
and her former Auf Weidersehen, Pet star husband Tim Healy were completely
content as proud parents of their 11-year-old son Matthew, and having another
baby hadn’t even entered their heads.
Their natural joy when
Denise discovered she was pregnant again at the age of 42 was tempered with
concern, as the actress, who plays Rovers’ Return boss Natalie, had
suffered two years of crippling post-natal depression, in her case being post
natal illness, “effectively a full-blown nervous breakdown after having
had a baby,” explains Denise. “It’s the cruellest thing that can
happen to a woman”.
Denise’s harrowing experience with
post-natal
depression after the birth of their son Matthew meant the
couple were on a rollercoaster of emotions after discovering
she was
pregnant. But they are now looking forward to
welcoming their new child in
March |
As we sipped champagne to celebrate the news
that she is expecting a little boy, there was no doubt that the couple’s
misgivings have been completely overtaken by a sense of delight in the
forthcoming arrival. “I’m absolutely cock-a-hoop,” admits
Denise.
It was the day of the Hillsborough disaster, a week after the
birth, that Denise realised she was ill. “All I can describe it as, is a
thick black cloud descending on me. By the time Dad and Tim came back from
playing golf the medics were there giving me a tranquillising
injection”.
The couple’s impending bundle of joy has taken
some getting used to, but now both Tim and Denise are toasting the baby’
arrival with joy. Explains Denise: “After we started to tell more people
we began to get very excited. I was scared of telling people at first, but it
became impossible for me to keep it secret because my shape was changing. My
contract was also coming up for renewal, and my producer Jane was wanting to
chat to me about my storylines over Christmas so I knew I’d have to tell
her.
“Now I’m delighted, and Matthew is so excited about it.
For more on Denise and Tim’s happy news, buy the new issue of
HELLO!, on sale now. |
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