Ashley James Opens Up About Postnatal Heartbreak

has confessed she felt 'heartbroken' at her postnatal recovery as she opened up about the reality of motherhood in her latest shoot with Women's Health. 

The This Morning star, 39, shares two children Alfie, five, and Ada, three, with partner Tommy Andrews. 

And the mother-of-two looked sensational as she slipped into an array of swimwear looks for her latest shoot with Women's Health UK. 

Reflecting on her postnatal recovery after giving birth to her first child, she said: 'I felt heartbroken at my postnatal recovery. 

'I thought faecal incontinence must be normal, but no one talked about it. It was only three months in that I messaged a private health physio to say, "At what point does the incontinence stop?" and she was like, "No, that's not normal."'

Explaining why there needs to be more honest conversations surrounding the realities of motherhood, she said: 'When you talk about struggling in motherhood and feelings of regret or despair people say, "What will your children think when they learn about this?"

'But maybe if we didn't romanticise [motherhood] so much, we'd equip people better to deal with it…

'Motherhood heightened my sense of urgency – not only because I see the struggles that so many people are going through, but also because of the impossibilities that mothers face.

'There's too much pressure on a mum to figure it all out, then be told if they complain that they don't love their kid.'

Ashley looked sensational in the shoot as she put on a leggy display in a pair of green bikini bottoms and cropped green top. 

She also slipped into a red swimsuit as she was seen relaxing by the pool in one shot.  

Ashley also spoke out about the power of women speaking openly and challenging outdated societal expectations. 

'When women use their voice, it's resistance, even if it's just talking to your friends. The more we talk, the more it helps others to deconstruct these ideas, whether it's around body expectations or double standards,' she said.

'Society still fears intelligent women who are seeing through the shackles of society. We need more of them.'