Ashley James reveals her baby son Alfie had a ‘traumatic’ delivery

Ashley James has revealed that her son Alfie Rivers had a ‘traumatic’ delivery after his heart rate dropped. 

The DJ, 33, who welcomed her first child with boyfriend Tom Andrews in January, also posted new snaps from Alfie’s birth as she reflected on the time.

Ashley shared that due to her son being such a ‘big baby’, his heart rate dropped during delivery and she had to ‘push him out’ quickly, resulting in a ‘traumatic’ birth.

Posting a collection of candid snaps from Alfie’s birth, Ashley commented on how ‘swollen and bruised’ his head was at the time.

The TV personality also asked her 284K followers for advice on finding a baby osteopath for her son as he is having ‘discomfort with wind and pooping’.

In one photo taken after giving birth, Ashley sweetly cradled Alfie on her chest as she held his tiny hand.

She penned over the snap: ‘Alf had quite a traumatic entry into the world with his shoulders needing to twist and being such a big baby.

‘His heart rate dropped and I had to push him out very quickly. You can see how swollen and bruised his little face was. So it would make sense if he’s got a few niggles from his birth.’

In another picture, taken just seven hours after his birth, Ashley penned: ‘This was taken about seven hours after Alf was born. 

‘He slept all night in the Snoo, which was very reassuring for safety on his first night home with us. His little head was so swollen and bruised bless him.’

Ashley added that she was looking into getting a baby osteopath for her son due to his ‘traumatic’ delivery, she also shared an excerpt with reasons for doing so. 

The TV personality has previously discussed her birthing process and in January she appeared on Jeremy Vine. 

Ashley told host Jeremy: ‘I mean it was long, definitely not comfortable, as expected, but it was kind of like amazing and luckily Tommy was in hospital with me.

‘We gave birth at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the NHS midwives were just amazing. They did everything they could to work with the Covid rules but to ensure Tommy was with me at all points basically.

‘I couldn’t ask for a better experience, especially in the circumstances.’

Jeremy went on to ask Ashley about how motherhood has changed her, after she previously thought she didn’t want any children.

‘It’s amazing to think this time last year I probably would have said I wouldn’t want children,’ the television personality said.

‘I kept on saying “maybe when I’m older” but I’m 33 now and I never quite felt that I was old enough.

‘Now that he’s here, he has just transformed my world and I suppose with lockdown as well. Life is so different to what it was a year ago anyway that it’s just like a having a new friend for lockdown.’

It comes after the star took to Instagram on Monday to share beautiful new breastfeeding and labour pictures with her fans. 

She also shared a snap of her boyfriend Tom, 31, carrying little Alfie out of the hospital as they prepared to go home for the first time. 

Ashley wrote: ‘AD: I still can’t believe that I found out I was pregnant in lockdown and gave birth still in lockdown 9 months later. It’s definitely something I’ll be telling my grandkids about in years to come! 

‘That’s why I’m so excited to be working with W Channel to celebrate the launch of their new show Emma Willis: Delivering Babies in 2020. 

‘This series follows the stories of families whose pregnancy and birthing plans have been thrown in the air by lockdown in the UK in 2020. 

‘Whilst I always like to search for the positives in any situation, there were some definite fears and challenges lockdown brought.

‘I wanted to share all my personal experience with you, so if you head over to @wtvchannel you can hear my full story.’

She continued: ‘I’d LOVE to know how many of you experienced pregnancy and/or birth during 2020 and 2021, maybe you still are? What have you guys found the impact has been? 

‘The hardest thing for me was definitely my mum not getting to feel the baby kick in my belly! Anyway, you can watch Emma Willis: Delivering Babies in 2020 at 10pm tonight on W Channel.

‘It’s available on Sky -109/809 Virgin -125/191, BT – 311/383 or Talk Talk – 311. #DeliveringBabies.’

Ashley had earlier paid tribute to her close friend Caroline Flack who died a year ago, aged 40. 

And she wrote: ‘PS: today feels like a weird day to be doing paid content, but given it’s about life, specifically new life it felt very appropriate. 

‘And I’ve been lucky enough to see the first episode and it really is very good. I just wanted to bring this up as I didn’t want it to seem insensitive or out of place. ❤️’

Earlier Ashley had shared a beautiful picture of her friend and shared a thoughtful post alongside it. 

She had penned: ‘For someone who writes really long captions, I don’t really know what to say today, apart from I miss her. I can’t believe it’s been a year.

‘I’m not sure I can write anything articulate, so I just want to say that this is my favourite photo of her. I remember chatting to her all afternoon and she was feeling low. 

‘She also had two outfit options and I remember her trying both of them on and me giving my thoughts then finding out the other dress had been put in her room by mistake and belonged to someone else. 

‘They came to collect it from her and we laughed so much about that. I remember seeing how beautiful and happy she looked in these photos and sending them to her like YOU LOOK BL**DY AMAZING.’

She continued: ‘I bet we all wish we could hear that wonderful, infectious laugh again. I hope today is a reminder to people to be kind with your words because we don’t know what someone is feeling behind the smiles. 

‘Sending so much love especially to her family today. I love you and think of you everyday, and feel so lucky to have been your friend. ❤️.’