Sophie Ellis-Bextor reveals she was left 'shocked' when a doctor offered to sterilise her after the birth of her fifth child

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has recalled being left 'shocked' after a doctor bluntly offered to sterilise her following the birth of her fifth child in 2019.

The songstress, 46, shares sons Sonny, 19, Kit, 14, Ray, 11, Jesse, seven, and four-year-old Mickey, with her musician husband Richard Jones, 46.

Sophie, who was expecting youngest son Mickey at the time, explained how the medic, who she had never met before, first 'freaked her out' by highlighting the risks of pregnancy at 39, such as blood loss and organ damage. 

The hitmaker said that she couldn't help but wonder if sterilisation was suggested due to her age or the medic's belief that she was 'irresponsible' for having so many children.

Sophie, who turned down the offer, said: 'Yeah that was suggested, quite shocking. I think for me it was all about nuance. I'm so big on this and how things are communicated because there's so many ways of saying the exact same thing'.

'Was that because of my age? Is that because of how many children I've had? Is that because she thinks I've been irresponsible?'.

Speaking on No Parental Guidance podcast, she continued: 'I suppose [the doctor] already introduced the idea that she thought it was not a brilliant idea that I was having a baby in the first place because of all these risks I had subjected myself to.

'But my usual, very nice consultant had never said any of that.'

Sophie also revealed another upsetting incident that occurred after she suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage.  

'I once had a miscarriage, this is a while back, and I had a scan, and when I came out of the room, I went to the desk and the lady said: "Do you want any photos? Printing any photos?"'.

'So she had no idea what happened in the room. You have these little daggers and you have to go okay, thanks, and just walk out'.

It comes after Sophie's mum Janet Ellis bravely opened up about her own devastating miscarriages after suffering 10 in just five years.

Between the ages of 35 and 40, Janet, now 70, heartbreakingly lost ten pregnancies and received no medical explanation.

The former Blue Peter presenter admitted she didn't tell her famous daughter for years because she didn't want to 'burden her' or put her off from having more children. 

Janet shares Sophie with her ex-husband Robin Bextor, as well as daughter Martha-Rose, 35, and son Jackson, 38, with late husband John Leach.

She said: 'After three, you become a patient at the recurrent miscarriage clinic. But they never discovered why it happened.'

'I already had three children, and I didn't want to lose their childhoods. They didn't know anything about what was happening. I didn't want them ever to think that I was unwell because of it.

'I didn't want to burden her [Sophie]. And I didn't want to put her off having more children', she told The Mirror.

While Janet never found out why she had 10 miscarriages, she feels the medical explanation for other women is still 'completely unexplained' to this day. 

Sophie's son Sonny previously revealed why he moved in with his grandmother Janet as he gave a sweet insight into their relationship.

Sonny moved out of his west London family home to be with his grandmother and former TV presenter Janet.

Speaking to The Times, Sonny explained his reasons for the move and sweetly said him and Janet are now 'closer than ever'. 

He said: 'I think it got to the point, back home, where I needed more space. Three of my brothers shared a room. The only time the house got quiet was when everyone was in bed. 

'So when I was coming to the end of school, my grandmother asked if I wanted to move in. I've been coming here all my life, so it's always felt like a second home anyway.' 

He added that there are no house rules living with her but that he does help with the laundry and washing up, but explained that 'nothing is forced'. 

Sonny and Janet often eat together, with Janet cooking for him - but they 'mostly do their own thing'.