Ali Fedotowsky-Manno Had Postpartum Surgery 6 Months After Welcoming Son to Remove Placenta

Like mama, like son — in good times and bad.

BothAli Fedotowsky-Mannoand her 7-month-old son Riley Doran ended 2018 with trips to the doctor. The proud mom — who shares Riley and 2½-year-old daughterMolly Sullivanwith husbandKevin Manno— told followers in November that Riley was undergoing breathing treatments after catching a cold.

Now, while the cold is old news, he still “does have weird breathing in general,” the formerBachelorettestar, 34, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview while promoting her partnership withKibbles ‘n Bits.

“Ever since he was born, we kept telling our doctor, ‘He sounds like a pug, he sounds like a pug. That breathing can’t be right,’ ” she says.

Ali Fedotowsky-Manno.Ashley Burns Photography

Fedotowsky-Manno also had a tough November in terms of her own health. The same month her son came down with a cold (and her daughter caught a fever!), she had a “minor surgery”to remove placenta that was left overin her uterus after giving birth to Riley.

“The same thing happened with Molly, but the placenta worked itself out with medication,” she explains. “With Riley, it was so stuck inside of me, a little sticky sucker, that it wouldn’t come out, so I had a minor surgery where the doctordid a [dilation and curettage]to suck it out.”

After the D&C procedure, the former reality star remembers experiencing “a lot of hormonal changes” that dramatically impacted her emotions. “I was feelingnot myself — sad and really anxious,” she reveals, recalling staring at her computer for hours “and not getting anything done.”

Courtesy Ali Fedotowsky

Even with the medical bumps, there’s a lot that Fedotowsky-Manno is happy about these days. Riley is now able to sit in a highchair, “which means Kevin and I can finally sit and eat food,” she tells PEOPLE.

Kevin Manno, Ali Fedotowsky-Manno and their dog Owen.Ashley Burns Photography

In partnership withKibbles ‘n Bits, Fedotowsky-Manno has been vocal about the importance of being attentive to pets when (human) kids come into the picture.

She says that Owen has helped teach her daughter responsibility around the house. To that end, Fedotowsky-Manno has Molly feed their dog every morning.

“She totally loves it,” Fedotowsky-Manno tells PEOPLE of her older child‘s daily chore. “I think a pet is a great way to teach your child responsibilities.”

source: people.com