A BODYBUILDER who was told she might never lift a weight again after nearly dying in childbirth has won an international fitness trophy.
Jenna Thompson's journey from emergency hospital theatre bed to the podium is largely down to trainer Anita Albrecht, herself no stranger to the world of strict diets, podium posing and fake tan.
The 33-year-old, from Great Totham, picked up third place in the Yummy Mummy class at the Miami Pro UK Championships, held last week in St Albans.
Jenna's ambition to pick up one of the major prizes in the international bodybuilding and fitness circuit was almost over when she suffered a horrific injury while giving birth to her first daughter, Emilia, in September last year.
"Basically I had a fourth degree tear along my perineum, there was a hell of a lot of blood," said Jenna, who has been training with Anita at A.P.T Studio in Warley for three years.
"The first thing I remember was that there were five doctors around in a panic. I don't remember much after that; I just went into shock and had to be operated on straight away.
"I don't know how much blood I lost but it was pints. I was in labour for two days.
"They rushed me to theatre and after that I was put in the hands of a colorectal specialist. I was really lucky that he was there at the time."
'Absolutely devastated'
Jenna was told not to even lift Emilia, who weighed eight-pounds, for at least three months and was kept at Broomfield Hospital for four days before being allowed to go home.
The half-Irish and half-Egyptian hairdresser was then given even more heart-breaking news when doctors told her that her dream of competitive bodybuilding was never likely ro come true.
She said: "I was absolutely devastated when I was told I wouldn't be able to lift weights again but if anything, it made me even more determined.
"I thought there is no way I'm not going to compete again. I was determined I was going to do it – even if it killed me."
Between February and April, Jenna started on the long road to being able to lift even small weights and spent regular sessions at Anita's gym in Firsgrove Road.
Jenna said: "There were times when I thought I couldn't do it, and there were times that I cried thinking I was never going to get there.
"But I did everything Anita told me to do; I just believed I was going to get a trophy but there is no way I could have done it without her."
It was when she was called in third place that both her relief – and Anita's – became evident. She said: "It was the number one best thing I have ever experienced apart from seeing my baby for the first time.
"My dad and family struggled to understand at the beginning because you have got to be obsessed and absolutely dedicated otherwise it is not worth it. But when I won I was just so proud. My dad was there when I was rushed into the hospital theatre. He was concerned he might lose me."
