Ashley James Forced To Defend Breastfeeding Snaps

Ashley James has been forced to defend herself for taking breastfeeding selfies after she was attacked by a number of trolls on Instagram.

Yes, the year is 2021 and women are still having to justify their personal actions which are no-one else's business.

Ashley, who welcomed her first child, Alfie Rivers, with her boyfriend Tom Andrews at the start of the year took to Channel 5's Jeremy Vine to talk about how the stigma around breastfeeding needs to end.

Speaking honestly about some of the trolling she has faced on Instagram about her breastfeeding photos, the 33-year-old explained: "I was quite surprised [to be told] that I shouldn't be showing that off in public, I shouldn't be showing it offline, that I am attention-seeking.

"It kind of really surprised me. I have had big boobs since I was a teenager and this is the first time I feel like I don't have to be ashamed of my breasts I am feeding a child - what more amazing thing can you do with breasts than that?"

Instagram - ashleylouisejames)

Ashley continued: "The reality of being a new mum, especially when Tommy is working in the day, I barely have time to clean my teeth some days so the thought to put a top on to speak to people online so I am not seen as attention-seeking kind of blows my mind.

"I think it kind of shows why the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world because there is still so much shame and stigma around breastfeeding.

Instagram - ashleylouisejames)

"And when I have spoken to other mums the thought for them of having to breastfeed in public, so never mind online, is one of the reasons why they don't carry on breastfeeding."

Good for Ashley for speaking out.

The news comes after a realistic and emotional breastfeeding advert was aired over in the States during the Golden Globes award ceremony.

The honest commercial showed two women struggling to get to grips with breastfeeding. As well as struggling with lactation, latching and bottle-feeding, the advert honestly showed both new mothers exploring deep-rooted societal expectations placed on women after they give birth, which often leaves them feeling inadequate.

You can read more about that here.

Topics: Breastfeeding, Entertainment News, Celebrity News, Motherhood, Channel 5

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley