Former Made in Chelsea star Ashley James has announced she will undergo surgery after living with urinary and faecal incontinence for nearly six years. The health complications stem from a traumatic birth in 2021 with her son Alfie, during which she suffered a missed third-degree tear and was incorrectly stitched. James shares Alfie, five, and three-year-old daughter Ada with her partner Tom Andrews.
Surgery Plans Following Years of Birth Complications
James revealed her upcoming medical procedure during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning alongside presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. The 39-year-old broadcaster stated she has her first appointment to discuss the surgical procedure scheduled later this week. She explained that managing the condition requires extensive daily planning.
“When you experience something like incontinence, you have to plan your days and evenings around this physical thing that nobody on the outside really sees, but you know can happen,” James told the programme. She added that she initially assumed her postpartum symptoms were standard recovery because of a lack of open dialogue surrounding birth injuries. It was only after consulting a private health physiotherapist that she learned her condition was not normal.
Raising Awareness During a Trip to Paris
While visiting Paris with Tom Andrews to attend a Celine Dion residency as a birthday treat, James left her wash bag containing Tena pads on the Eurostar train. Her partner had to purchase replacements near the Champs-Élysées, returning with Tena incontinence pants instead of pads due to street closures related to a visit by the Pope.
Standing near the Eiffel Tower, James posted a photograph of herself wearing the incontinence pants to her 843,000 Instagram followers. “Lots of you will know that since having Alf, I’ve lived with various birth complications, and one of them is incontinence,” she wrote online. She praised her partner for his support, noting that he has never made her feel embarrassed about her postpartum injuries.
Postpartum Care Realities
James used her platform to criticise the current standard of postpartum support for mothers. She highlighted that many women quietly live with permanent physical sacrifices after childbirth while feeling societal pressure to treat the consequences as a personal failure or a source of embarrassment. Her social media inbox was subsequently flooded with messages from other women sharing similar experiences under the phrase “me too.”
Common Questions Regarding Postpartum Incontinence
What caused Ashley James’s incontinence?
James developed urinary and faecal incontinence following a missed third-degree tear and incorrect stitching during the traumatic birth of her son Alfie in 2021.
How many children does Ashley James have?
She shares two children with her partner Tom Andrews: a five-year-old son named Alfie and a three-year-old daughter named Ada.