Stacey Dooley hospitalised for emergency surgery after devastating ectopic pregnancy left her ‘bleeding internally’

Stacey was hoping to expand her family with partner Kevin Clifton last year

An emotional Stacey Dooley, 38, has candidly opened up about suffering an ectopic pregnancy, revealing “it was really [bleep]ing difficult”.

The presenter has been in a long-term relationship with Kevin Clifton since 2019. The pair are parents to a daughter named Minnie, who was born in January 2023.

However, late last year, Stacey revealed that she was forced to undergo emergency surgery after suffering an ectopic pregnancy. Now, she’s spoken about the experience again in a new podcast interview.

Stacey crying
Stacey candidly opened up about the ordeal (Credit: U)

Stacey Dooley in ectopic pregnancy heartache

During episode two of her U show Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over back in September, Stacey spoke to Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, who was Britain’s first legally recognised gay father.

However, while alone and talking to the camera, Stacey said: “I have experienced what it is like to struggle to have a child. We obviously wanted to expand our family, and last year I fell pregnant and it didn’t go brilliantly.”

Getting emotional, the Strictly star Stacey continued: “It was ectopic.” As her voice broke Stacey said: “I am so sorry because this is so predictable. I am sat here, crying on a bed. It was ectopic, and it was really [bleep]ing difficult.”

Stacey crying
Things took an emotional turn (Credit: U)

Stacey had to have emergency surgery

An ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of being pregnant. It happens when instead of growing in the womb, the embryo grows in the fallopian tube.

Stacey then shared that she had to undergo urgent surgery for an “internal rupture”.

She said: “Of course, when you go through something like that, you are forced to think of alternatives. [Bleep] happens, and if you want a bigger family, you have to think how you’re going to do that.”

‘You’re bleeding internally’

Speaking Amy Jackson Westwick on her What’s The Tea, Amy? podcast, Stacey spoke about her ectopic pregnancy further. She said: “I fell pregnant last year, and it didn’t go brilliantly. I couldn’t talk about it for such a long time without bursting into floods of tears. But now I can. It was ectopic and it was all dramatic. It happened in Liverpool. And I was at Liverpool Women’s Hospital this time.

“Everything was quite dramatic and it was like: ‘You’re bleeding internally,’ and I had to go for immediate surgery. I remember I was lying on the bed, about to go under, because it was all going [bleep]s up, and the nurse joked: ‘Here love, have some Scouse air,’ as she put the mask on and I knew I was in capable hands. That environment, you know the Women’s hospital, they are renowned for being absolutely amazing.”

Stacey and Kevin smiling
The pair are parents to a daughter (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Stacey on wanting more children

Stacey met partner Kevin Clifton when they were partnered up together on Strictly in 2018. They ended up winning the show and a year later they started dating.

Going from strength to strength, Kevin and Stacey welcomed their daughter Minnie in January 2023.

Meanwhile earlier this year, Stacey told The Guardian that she would love be a mum again and have more children. “I would like to have more children. But it’s not a given, is it?” she said.