Peter Andre and wife Emily MacDonagh reveal son Theo's struggle with bronchitis
The tot was rushed to hospital last Christmas
Peter Andre and his wife Emily MacDonagh have spoken about their son's worrying battle against bronchitis just two weeks after he was born.
Theo, now one, was rushed to hospital after he contracted bronchitis, a respiratory infection that causes inflammation in the airways.
'He was hospitalised this time last year, shortly after being born,' said Emily to OK! Magazine.
'He got bronchiolitis at two weeks old, which is a winter illness in babies. It causes inflammation in the airways so oxygen levels can drop.
'I noticed he was having trouble breathing when he was feeding and at times there would be quite big pauses between his breaths,' she added.
Emily, who is a doctor, comes from a line of medical professionals who were more than happy to look after baby Theo.
'It was a very scary time. Emily's mum is a paediatrician so Theo was in great hands, but it was a horrible time,' said Peter.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
'It was tough for me to speak about at the time but now he's a chubby cherub and is right as rain, I feel fine to talk about it,' said Emily.
The pair said that they are hoping for a brighter Christmas this year now their son is fit and healthy.
'I'm really looking forward to it as last year Theo was so miserable and he wasn't well at all,' said Emily.
'None of the kids have ever had anything like that so it was worrying. After a tough time last Christmas with Theo big ill, this year will be amazing,' added Pete.
Emily is an advocate of several infant health issues, and has recently spoken out about the importance of vaccinations.
'Having worked in Africa with my dad – who's a surgeon and runs a charity there – I've seen the difference they make and how fortunate we are to have them for free.
'Babies are meant to have vaccines at eight, 12 and 16 weeks but because Theo had a tricky start he's a month behind.'
Theo is the second child of the couple, after Emily gave birth to daughter Amelia in 2014.
Peter has two other children from his marriage to Katie Price, Princess Tiiami and Junior.
Trusted, informative, and empathetic – GoodToKnow is the ultimate online destination for parents. At GoodtoKnow, our mission is 'simple': we're trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you'll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our huge archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life - from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.
