Chantelle Houghton will have heart surgery after she gives birth

The reality TV star is expecting her first child with fiance Alex Reid but has been diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) - which means she has an extra electrical circuit in her heart - and she will have to have an operation once she welcomes her daughter into the world.

She said: "After the birth I can have heart surgery and they can burn away some of the heart muscle, which will take away the extra electrical circuit. It`s like my heart short-circuits and then it just goes mental. It`s been horrible and scary. I will have to wait and see what happens once the baby is born.

"The doctors are saying, `Try to see the rest of your pregnancy through - we don`t want to put you on medication.` I haven`t even had a paracetamol since I`ve been pregnant because I`m so scared about it affecting the baby. Heart surgery scares the life out of me."

Because of her condition, Chantelle - who was told by doctors she wouldn`t be able to conceive a baby naturally - thinks she will have to have a Caesarean section because having a natural birth will put extra pressure on her heart.

She told Britain`s OK! magazine: "I was scared about the birth anyway. The doctor strongly recommends I have an epidural because of the pressure on my heart. I may have a Caesarean. the more I think about it, it might make sense. just because of my heart, not because I`m too posh to push!"

sections: Celebrities