MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow opens up about miscarriage with ex-husband Jono Bennett
Chef Poh Ling Yeow has opened up about a devastating loss she suffered.
The MasterChef Australia judge spoke out about her miscarriage on the Share My Mood podcast with The KIIS Network’s Will & Woody on Monday.
The 50-year-old explained she became pregnant during her marriage to her now ex-husband Jono Bennett, who she parted ways with in 2021.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Poh was “elated” after falling pregnant by accident but sadly lost the baby at 12 weeks.
“I got pregnant by accident, and it was interesting because even though I was really worried about it when it happened, I don’t know, whatever the hormones that kick in, I was elated. It was great,” she said on the podcast.
“And then on the 12th week, it was literally on the day that I could tell people, I lost the baby.”
She then revealed she had to go through a ten-hour labour at home.
“It’s so intense that it’s quite surreal in my head, it’s a bit of a dream state because, I mean, I was in a lot of pain and I was losing so much blood,” she explained.
“Yeah, it was pretty full on. It was ten hours… I actually saw the baby. I birthed.”
However, the MasterChef season one runner-up said she was “grateful” for her pregnancy experience and keeps the ultrasound on the fridge.
“I’m still really grateful. I still have the picture of the ultrasound on my fridge, which creeps people out,” she added.
“I went through pregnancy. I actually went through the process of birthing. I know what that feels like and I know what it feels like to have something growing inside me, which is just such a special thing, you know? So, yeah, that’s how I went through it.”
The TV talent also addressed the stigma around talking about miscarriages.
“I actually think that it’s a really weird thing that we’re encouraged to not tell people ‘we’re pregnant’ when I think it’s the opposite, but it might be my brain type,” she explained.
“I think if you tell everyone, then when it does happen or if it happens (miscarriage) - which is like a third of pregnancy, so how I processed it was with those figures. I was like, I’m not special.
“I always go back to you are a dot, you are not special and I always go back to instead of why me? Why not me? And that gets me out of everything.”
Poh began dating Jono in 2009 when they met on the set of MasterChef and were married in 2014.
Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)
