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Olivia Bowen, star of the reality TV show Love Island, recently opened up about her experience of giving birth and the epidural she received during labor. In a candid interview, the new mom discussed how the epidural didn’t work as she had hoped it would, leading her to feel like she had failed in some way during the birth of her son. Bowen’s story highlights the complex emotions that can come with the experience of childbirth and raises important questions about the expectations we place on ourselves as women and as mothers. In this article, we’ll explore Bowen’s story and what it can teach us about the realities of childbirth and the importance of self-compassion.


Olivia Bowen, the former Love Island contestant and reality television star, recently opened up about the pressure she felt to have a water birth and her subsequent sense of failure when she couldn’t go through with it. Speaking on the Made by Mammas podcast, Bowen revealed that she had been “really pro no drugs” and hoped to have a natural, drug-free water birth. However, when she couldn’t follow through with her plans, she felt ashamed and disappointed with herself.

Bowen’s story is a reminder of the immense pressure that women place on themselves during childbirth, and the subsequent feelings of failure that can arise when things don’t go as planned. She spoke candidly about her experience, stating that “It felt like you’re a woman, you can do this, you were born to do this. And when it turned out, no, I couldn’t do this… I just felt this huge shame around having an epidural, not being able to have a water birth and not being able to push him out just on my own… I felt huge shame, I felt huge disappointment in myself. It just felt like I had failed because everyone had said ‘oh you’re a woman, you can do this. You are built for this, our bodies are built for it.'”

These feelings are undoubtedly widespread among women who give birth, especially those who feel they have been given a specific message about what their bodies are capable of. However, Bowen also stressed the need to empower women regardless of the path they take during delivery, saying “We should start making women feel a bit more, you know, powerful even if they have to choose an option they didn’t want to, essentially in the beginning. But at the end of the day he got here, he got here safely.'”

Bowen’s experience also highlights the pressure women face to “bounce back” physically after giving birth. She spoke on her Instagram about feeling pressure to work out early on after giving birth and how it made her feel worse rather than better. She advises other women to take their time and not give in to outside pressure: “If I have any advice it would be just work on YOUR OWN TIME. Don’t ever give into the pressure, It’s not f*****g important unless it’s important to you!!… No one else’s, everyone’s situation is so so different & there is such a thing as divine timing & you can listen to it. It’s there right in your gut!”

Ultimately, Olivia Bowen’s story serves as an important reminder of the need to give women the agency and empowerment to trust their own instincts during childbirth and beyond. The pressure to conform to specific expectations can be overwhelming, but every woman’s journey is unique, and there should be no shame in making choices that feel right for you.


In conclusion, Olivia Bowen’s honest discourse on her experience with epidural during childbirth sheds light on the oftentimes silenced subject of “failure.” Her brave admission serves as a reminder that motherhood is a journey full of highs and lows, and there is no shame in seeking help or assistance during the birthing process. By sharing her story, Olivia has encouraged mothers everywhere to prioritize their health and well-being, and to trust that there is no “right” way to give birth. At the end of the day, what matters most is the health and happiness of both mother and child.