Anna Robards reveals how she spent time in ICU after giving birth to second daughter Ruby

Anna Robards — who rose to fame on The Bachelor — has told of how she almost had a fatal experience while giving birth to her second child Ruby.

Anna Robards cuts a smitten image, as she cuddles her new baby Ruby.

But behind the tender photo series lies a painful story – she very nearly did not make it.

The 37-year-old lawyer, who rose to fame when she met now-husband Tim on the first season of The Bachelor Australia, almost had a fatal experience while giving birth two months ago to her second child, after suddenly losing large amounts of blood.

She was rushed into surgery then moved to an intensive care unit.

Newborn Ruby was born in March. Picture: Instagram

“With my first child Elle I had a C-section and we later found out that she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck twice,” Robards said.

“So when it came to my second one, I went in for a caesarean too and I guess I was a little bit cocky … I thought it’s all gonna be fine, it’ll be easy they’ll just bring her out.

She is her second daughter with husband, TV's original Australian Bachelor Tim Robards. The couple have another daughter named Elle. Picture: Supplied

“The birth itself was fine and I had Ruby on my chest and I thought everything had gone really well. Then all of a sudden, they said that they thought I was clotting.”

An obstetrician initially gave Robards the all clear but then doctors noticed her bleeding wouldn’t stop.

“I handed Ruby over to my husband and they called the obstetrician back … I could see everyone started to get a little bit worried because I wouldn’t stop bleeding and they didn’t know why,” she said.

“I was told I had to go back in for another surgery which would only take about 40 minutes but instead went for about two hours.

“It wasn’t until I came out that we realised how sort of dangerous that was.

Anna Robards with her two-month-old daughter Ruby. Picture: Supplied

“My obstetrician told my husband if I wasn’t at that hospital at that time with the facilities and everything, it could’ve been fatal.”

Robards, who was left traumatised by the experience, ended up in the ICU overnight as a precautionary measure.

“When you go into childbirth you want to make sure that the child’s okay and all your thoughts are about the child,” she said.

“But no one really thinks about how dangerous it can also be for the mother.”

Robards admits while the physical recovery has been “positive”, mentally she is still recovering from the experience.

Anna Robards shares now two daughters with her husband and former Bachelor Tim. Picture: Supplied

Tim Robards with his two daughters Elle and Ruby. Picture: Instagram

“I’m trying not to think about the situation too much … but there have been times where you do think what if and it’s something that you can’t dwell on,” she said.

“I’m really lucky I’ve got two beautiful girls now and we’re kind of just now adjusting at home as a family of four.

“There’s just way more going on and you’re constantly just trying to juggle things.”

The Huggies ambassador, who also runs her own business Intu Wellness, said her focus is now finding the right balance between motherhood and work life.

“I’ve got a company that basically looks after your skin so I now focus on how I can look after my baby’s skin,” Robards said.

“I think everything you do now as a mum is about trying to protect your child in the best way possible.”