TV presenter Laura Jackson admits her crippling antenatal depression left her ‘miserable, crying every day and unable to get out of bed’

TV presenter Laura Jackson has opened up about how her debilitating antenatal depression left her ‘miserable, crying every day and unable to get out of bed’.

The star, 39, was pregnant with her third child Nico in 2022 when her life was turned upside down by mental and physical health problems.

Despite already having two children, daughter Sidney Frances and son Remy with her husband Jonathan Gorrigan, she was struck down with crippling symptoms the third time around.

At 14 weeks pregnant she was officially diagnosed with antenatal depression and still takes antidepressants to this day.

She told The Times of her experience: ‘I went from feeling a bit down and tired to constantly exhausted – and so, so miserable. 

‘I didn’t want to get out of bed. I felt as if I’d lost my personality. I cried every single day and I looked dreadful. I look back at pictures of that time now and I’m dead behind the eyes.

TV presenter Laura Jackson has opened up about how her debilitating antenatal depression left her ‘miserable, crying every day and unable to get out of bed’ 

The star, 39, was pregnant with her third child Nico (seen) in 2022 when her life was turned upside down by mental and physical health problems 

‘Not to mention that I felt like I should be grateful – that as I was lucky to be pregnant, I was doing something wrong by feeling so awful.’

She aded that ‘every day was just about getting through it’ and that she didn’t want to see anyone.  

There was relief when she gave birth but then she began to struggle again and in October 2024 went to see her GP who prescribed her the antidepressants. 

Two years on from having her son she finally feels like she has her ‘whole self back again’. 

Back in April 2023 Laura took to Instagram to announce the news of her third child being born and revealed their baby boy’s unusual name – Nico Sunny Gorrigan.  

Sharing a selection of sweet images of Nico with her children, the TV host penned: ‘Nico Sunny Gorrigan. Last week we completed our party of 5.

‘A different, special and very wonderful kind of Easter.

‘A birthing pool entrance, surrounded by our condiments in the kitchen at home – we finally said hello to the latest member of our family. After an emotional and challenging pregnancy – I feel on cloud nine, totally overjoyed that he is finally here!

‘It’s not often that life takes a real pause, so we are savouring these truly special moments and toasting the new arrival the only way I know how – bottomless marg.’ 

Laura’s celeb pals took to the comment section to share their congratulations. 

Despite already having two children daughter Sidney Frances and son Remy with her husband Jonathan Gorrigan, she was struck down with crippling symptoms the third time around

At 14 weeks pregnant she was officially diagnosed with antenatal depression and still takes antidepressants to this day 

At the time she opened up about how hard she had found her pregnancy – which she had kept secret for a long time  

The presenter shared a photo of her husband Jonathan introducing Nico to their daughter Sidney Frances and son Remy after she gave birth

Helen Skelton wrote: ‘Just beautiful’, while Laura Whitmore added: ‘Congrats you superstar!’ 

 Another follower added: ‘Heaven!! Congratulations, well done and hi cute tiny Nico’. 

Laura kept her pregnancy private for as long as possible out of fears it would harm work opportunities, and revealed the news when she was eight months along, and told fans in a post on 21 February. 

At the time she shared several snaps of her growing bump where she told followers it had been a gruelling pregnancy filled with exhaustion and sickness.

She wrote: ‘I’ve always chosen to keep my pregnancies private for as long as possible. Worrying I will get overlooked for work and that it will affect peoples perceptions of my capabilities. 

‘We have definitely moved the dial a lot in terms of rights, but I think pregnancy shame is a real thing and women are still, sadly, subconsciously (and consciously) discounted from opportunities because of a bump.

‘I feel conscious of an announcement trigging others: conceiving can also take a variety of paths – and I always want to try and be as sensitive as possible to friends and my community who are navigating their own fertility journey…or choosing not to navigate it at all.

‘To be totally frank (and I have wondered how honest to be here) this has been the longest and most emotional 8 months.

‘I have not felt myself from about 6 weeks pregnant. I’ve had exhaustion, zero energy, crazy hormones, feeling so incredibly lonely in this journey, tears, sickness (leading to hospitalisation), feeling like I’ve lost my personality, I mean, the list could go on. I wish I could have felt more Rhianna at the super bowl, but sadly not so.

‘As a glass half full / over flowing kinda gal – this has been hard. These are new feelings for me and have at times felt scary. 

‘However, I’m so lucky to have the support of my family and friends – even though I have been a miserable b*tch.

Laura and Jonathan tied the knot in a dazzling beach ceremony in Porthscatho, Cornwall in September 2017

‘Being able to get pregnant and grow an actual human is of course the most special thing. I know that I’m so lucky. However it’s not something my body, mind or hormones seem to enjoy: please tell me I am not alone in not enjoying this?!

‘I’m very much looking forward to not having stabbing pains in my vagina, enjoying a pint(s) of margarita and just feeling like my old non-pregnant fun self — oh and meeting the baby, of course. Not long to go now!’

Laura is best known for presenting the quiz shows Ready or Not on BBC One and Take Me Out: The Gossip on ITV2. 

Laura and Jonathan tied the knot in a dazzling beach ceremony in Porthscatho, Cornwall in September 2017.