Gone are the dowdy clothes, scraped-back hairstyle and the anguished expression that came with her character's famous catchphrase "Rickaaaay!" Since the birth of her fourth baby, Bertie, just seven months ago, she is happier and healthier than ever. Most women pushing 40 would dread the thought of slipping into their swimwear after having four children. But, looking fabulous in a Liz Hurley bikini, Patsy confesses she's now completely at ease with her new "womanly curves" and size 12 body – even though she can't get back into her old jeans yet. "I'm not bothered," she says. "In fact I love being pregnant because you're creating a little miracle. "I'm not one of those stars who wanted to snap back to a size zero in a couple of weeks. I can't stand the pressure it puts on women to lose weight after birth. "I'm a mum and a real woman, and you have to accept that after having kids your body will change and never quite be the same. I'm much curvier than I was. "My hips are wider, my boobs are bigger and I still can't fit into some of my old clothes. Even my feet have changed! But I like the shape I am and I'm proud of my body. As you get older it's nice to have some curves. It's natural and womanly. "I just wish more women would celebrate the amazing things that happen to their bodies and not feel so much pressure to snap back to a size six. SKINNY "Most women who look in the mirror and don't look stick-thin think it's wrong. But thin is not necessarily healthy. "I used to be naturally skinny as a kid. Now I'm wearing a size 12-14, my stomach's a little loose and I've got stretch marks. But so what? I'm not worried because I look at what I've got – four wonderful children – and it doesn't really matter." Patsy, speaking during a sunshine break with her children and cab driver husband Richard Merkell at the exclusive La Manga Club resort in Murcia, Spain, adds: "I put on over two-and-a-half stone during my pregnancy and I've lost about one- and-a-half stone. But I'm not stressing about it and I'm not desperate to lose more weight. "When you have a baby it's about you, your baby and your family, not about getting your jeans back on! "Many new mothers feel like they are competing with celebrities to see how quickly they can lose weight after having a baby and put unrealistic pressure on themselves. But that's rubbish. "It takes a good year and sometimes longer for your body, bones and muscles to recover. That's normal. "It's crazy what some women do to get thin. In fact, I find it quite disturbing. When I had my other kids I snapped back into shape without any effort at all but I admit this time it's been more difficult. "I'm older and I had another caesarean birth, my third, so I'm catching up with Posh and all this takes its toll on your body." Patsy shot to fame in 1993 as fiery EastEnder Bianca – whose henpecked hubby Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) often felt the sharp end of her tongue. Patsy battled drink and drug problems during her time on the soap and knows how lucky she is to be fit and healthy. "I'm just grateful that I feel so good – especially after what I've put my body through over the years," she reflects. "I'm a different person now. I've found what I was looking for: peace, inner happiness and a wonderful husband and family." The actress, who also has three other children Charley, 19 (from a previous relationship), Fenton, 11, and 10-year-old Emilia, has stepped up her fitness routine, fitting walking and training sessions on her Power Plate in between feeds and nappies. She says: "I'm currently following a healthy eating plan called Dr Khan's Lifestyle Programme, which consists of lots of fruit salads, vegetables, fish and meat. "I still don't deprive myself. If I fancy something I will have it but I don't stuff my face and I think twice before eating too many doughnuts." Patsy admits juggling family life with looking good isn't always easy: "Yeah, it's hard to feel sexy and glam during the first six months, when dirty nappies are piling up and you haven't had a good night's sleep. "You feel saggy and fat, especially when you can't get into your old clothes. But a spray tan and some Spanx body shaping tights always work wonders for me. They are my lifesavers." Patsy (right) in an early TV role Patsy as EastEnders' Bianca While life is now fantastic for the family, Patsy is still haunted by a pregnancy scare she had with Bertie. Her waters suddenly broke at 30 weeks, sparking a second terrifying ordeal for Patsy. During Fenton's birth she had suffered vasa praevia, a life-threatening condition in which the baby's blood vessels can suddenly rupture and the child can die before doctors have time to react. She says: "I had to have an emergency caesarean at 32 weeks and my consultant actually saved both our lives. "It was terrifying, so when my waters broke early with Bertie I felt it was like history repeating itself. "I remember the doctor explaining to Richard and myself exactly what can happen to a baby during a premature birth – for instance, breathing problems because of the baby's underdeveloped lungs, eye and ear problems, brain disorders and cerebral palsy – and we were both rigid with fear. "I was 31 weeks pregnant so I was really scared but I felt so helpless because I couldn't do anything but just lie in bed and wait. The whole time I was thinking 'how is baby surviving in my stomach without any protection?' "My consultant wanted me to continue with the pregnancy for as long as I could – at least until 34 weeks – to give the baby every chance to get bigger and stronger. But by the time I was 33 weeks he decided he didn't want to wait any longer and it would be better and safer for me and baby to deliver earlier." After the birth, Bertie was immediately whisked away to a special care ward for round-the-clock monitoring. "That was the worst part for me, as I couldn't get to hold him," says Patsy. "Richard held him for a brief moment and I gave him a little kiss. I heard him cry so I knew he was OK. Richard filmed the whole event and we watched it straight away. "Lydia, my natal nurse, kept me informed and told me everything about Bertie: what he was doing and how he was behaving. She said Bertie was really strong, feisty and very wilful." After four days, Patsy was allowed home but Bertie had to spend the next three weeks in intensive care in an incubator, being monitored day and night and fed through a tube. She says: "I hated leaving Bertie but we went there every day and stayed with him for a few hours. I couldn't stop crying. Every time I looked at him in the incubator, it tore me apart. He was so tiny and fragile. But I knew he was a fighter." The family was given resuscitation training before Bertie was allowed home on December 29. Patsy adds: "It was a very emotional experience for all of us. "You get to know all the other babies and mums and dads in the unit and see first hand what fantastic work the doctors and nurses do every day, all day, often with no break." Today, Bertie is a normal bouncing baby boy and Patsy says: "I keep staring at him. He's my little miracle." PRIDE Patsy's experiences have made her cherish her family life and she's savouring every moment of their summer holiday at La Manga. "It's brilliant here and there's so much for them to do," she says. "Fenton is a really talented tennis player and is having coaching lessons from ex-professional tennis player Jo Durie who's here. "Emilia is always in the pool – but the best thing is that the kids are playing outside all the time and haven't looked at a computer for weeks. I'm loving having all this time with all the kids. "I still can't believe I'm the mother of four children. "It's a huge source of pride for me, not to mention achievement. It's hard work but I have help from Richard. He's a great dad and a fantastic husband. "Bertie is in a lovely routine now and it's great to spend this time here with him. "Every day I see him doing something new and I don't want to miss a thing. It brings a tear to my eye. He is so beautiful. "I love being a mum. I could easily have another baby and I would never rule it out. I reckon I must have a baby-making machine in me somewhere. I don't miss working at all. In fact, I don't even watch EastEnders now. I'm too busy being a mum."
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