Ali Bastian says she feels "very lucky and grateful" after giving birth to her second daughter.
The Hollyoaks star, 41, gave birth to Isabella Charlotte in February and shares the tot with her husband David O'Mahoney, 40, who starred in The Muskateers.
The couple are already proud parents to Isla, three and have now opened up about becoming a family of four.
A self-confessed 'big baby maker', Ali explained her labour was an "emotional roller coaster", which ended up in her having a C-Section.
She went to hospital as planned on 9 February, but the operation was delayed due to emergencies taking priority.
Two days later, Ali, who had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies, went into labour.
"Isabella was in a really awkward position so it was quite a struggle to get her out," she told OK! magazine.
"She was a little bit black and blue when she came out. She had bruises on one side of her face and a little cut on the other side from the forceps.
"And then I had a haemorrhage. I lost more blood than they were happy with but they treated me for that and got it under control quickly."
Ali said she felt a bond with her little girl, who weighed a healthy 8lbs, straight away and praised husband David for supporting her.
Explaining the actor had slept 'bolt upright in a chair' in the hospital, the mum-of-two also credited her partner with choosing the name Isabella.
Ali confessed she initially "vetoed" the moniker, but after toying with the idea, grew to love it. The baby's middle name is a tribute to David's grandfather Charles.
Isabella also has another name, 'Baby Bingo', which her big sister Isla has proudly given her.
Explaining how she'd wanted her eldest daughter to meet her sibling in hospital, Ali said the sisters' first introduction was via FaceTime as the ward was "too busy".
The actress admitted Isla had a "few wobbles" in the days leading up to Isabella's birth, claiming the three-year-old could 'sense things were about to change'.
However, the tot is now 'relieved" the baby is here and Ali says she's making sure to spend as much time with Isla as she can.
Despite having to divide her time between a newborn and a tireless three-year old, the actress said being the oldest child herself made her aware of the need to 'shore up Isla's position in the family'.
As well as looking after Isla, Ali was doing voice-over work throughout her pregnancy after previously starring in BBC's Doctors.
She now says she'd love to star in another medical drama, insisting she wants to "make a strong return to acting this year".
