Kerry Katona has admitted to downing three bottles of Prosecco a day after giving birth to her daughter Dylan Jorge.
The mum-of-five opens up about dealing with what she believes was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in her new book Whole Again: Love, Life and Me: My Story.
“I really believe I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Kerry wrote, adding: “In fact, it was one of the reasons I started drinking around that time – that and the continuing abuse from George and his controlling manner.
"I was struggling a lot with the fact I nearly lost my life and DJ nearly lost hers. I started downing up to three bottles of Prosecco a day, although I remained super cautious of not letting the kids see me drunk."
DJ, which is short for Dylan-Jorge, was placed on life support immediately after being born.
The little girl's father George Kay married Kerry in 2014, but by 2015, the Atomic Kitten star had announced their separation after the rugby player allegedly assaulted her at their family home.
George was arrested at the time for assault by beating and possessing a banned weapon, but these charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Kerry says she feared she would die at the hands of her husband while recalling how the sportsman told friends he threatened to inject their daughter with heroin.
The couple's marriage was reportedly scarred by abuse, with Kerry claiming her late ex would spit on her, strangle her and hit her while she was pregnant with Dylan-Jorge.
George died aged 39 after a drug overdose in 2019, but Kerry says while she's aware her ex can't challenge anything she says and share his version of events - her recollections are 'all fact – and it’s my truth'.
In her new book, the columnist writes how after George died in 2019, one of his friends told the star how she had done the right thing in keeping the former rugby player away from daughter DJ.
Happily, the eight-year-old is now thriving and is adored by her older sisters Molly, Lilly-Sue, Heidi and brother Max.
Speaking about how close she is to her youngest child, Kerry recently wrote in her new! column: "DJ often sleeps in my bed. If Ryan is here, she sleeps in her own bed, but every now and then I let her sleep between us.
"I love nothing more than having her snuggled up to me. She's my baby."
Kerry Katona: Whole Again, published by Mirror Books, is available from high street stores, supermarkets and Amazon now
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033
