Ashley James has spoken candidly about the realities of living with post-birth incontinence after an unexpected mishap during a weekend trip to Paris left her without her usual supplies.
The 39-year-old television personality travelled to the French capital with her partner Tommy Andrews as part of a birthday celebration centred around seeing Celine Dion perform. However, the romantic getaway took an awkward turn when Ashley realised she had accidentally left her wash bag on the Eurostar.
Inside the bag were her Tena incontinence pads, leaving Tommy with the task of finding replacements in an unfamiliar city.
A Wash Bag Left Behind on the Eurostar
Sharing the experience with her Instagram followers, Ashley explained that Tommy went in search of the products she needed while much of the Champs-Élysées was closed because of the Pope’s visit.
His eventual solution was not quite what they had originally intended.
After returning from his shopping trip, Tommy had managed to find Tena pants rather than the pads Ashley normally uses.
Ashley later joked about the situation while posting a photograph of herself wearing the incontinence pants, describing the experience as both “humiliating” and “humbling”.
She also admitted that there was something particularly surreal about dealing with the practical realities of incontinence while enjoying what was otherwise a glamorous weekend in Paris.
Ashley’s Ongoing Recovery After Childbirth
For Ashley, the incident was another reminder of an injury she has been living with since the birth of her son Alfie in 2021.
The former Made in Chelsea star has previously explained that she was left with faecal incontinence after a third-degree tear was missed during childbirth and subsequently stitched incorrectly.
She has spoken repeatedly about the physical and emotional consequences of the injury, including the lack of information she initially received about what was happening to her body.
Ashley is now continuing with pelvic floor exercises while postponing surgery, but she says she is determined not to allow the condition to prevent her from enjoying her life.
‘There Really Is No Shame’
One of the most significant aspects of Ashley’s latest post was the response from other women.
After previously discussing her experience publicly, she said her Instagram messages were flooded with women who had experienced similar problems.
Many told her that they had regarded their symptoms as something embarrassing or something they should keep secret.
Ashley said those messages had reinforced her belief that there should be no shame attached to birth injuries or the long-term consequences of childbirth.
She also praised Tommy for the way he has supported her throughout her experience, while stressing that being treated with understanding should not be considered exceptional.
Calling for Better Postpartum Support
Ashley used the Paris incident to highlight what she believes is a wider problem with the way women are supported after giving birth.
She argued that mothers can be left dealing with serious and sometimes permanent injuries without adequate postpartum care, while simultaneously feeling pressured to regard those problems as personal failures.
Her message was that women deserve proper support rather than embarrassment or judgement when childbirth leaves lasting physical consequences.
The post subsequently attracted supportive comments from followers and fellow celebrities, with some women sharing their own experiences.
Ashley Previously Described Her Recovery as ‘Heartbreaking’
The television personality had already discussed the subject in depth earlier this year during an interview with Women’s Health.
Looking back on the period following Alfie’s birth, Ashley said she initially believed faecal incontinence was simply an unavoidable part of becoming a mother because nobody had told her otherwise.
It was only several months later, when she contacted a private pelvic health physiotherapist to ask when the problem was expected to stop, that she learned her symptoms were not normal.
Ashley has since argued for more honest conversations about the realities of motherhood, saying that romanticising the experience can leave parents unprepared for the physical and emotional challenges that may follow childbirth.
A Special Night Watching Celine Dion
Despite the difficult episode, Ashley said the Paris trip ultimately gave her an unforgettable experience.
She and Tommy had travelled to see Celine Dion, an artist Ashley has admired since childhood, and she described the performance as particularly emotional given Dion’s own health journey and return to the stage.
Ashley said watching the singer perform after her battle with stiff-person syndrome made the evening especially meaningful.
And there was one final piece of good news from the weekend: after all the drama, Ashley confirmed that her missing wash bag was eventually returned.
