She excitedly announced earlier this summer that she’s expecting her first baby with boyfriend Tom Andrews.
And Ashley James, 33, gave her fans an update on her pregnancy journey on Friday morning, when she revealed plans to go for a maternity bra fitting.
The London-based influencer and DJ took to Instagram on share a shot of herself modelling her own black bra as she discussed her need to update her collection.
Progress report: Ashley James, 33, gave her fans an update on her pregnancy journey on Friday morning, when she revealed plans to go for a maternity bra fitting
Cradling her baby bump as she filmed herself, she said: ‘Today I’ve decided to go and get a bra fitting at Bravissimo in Oxford Street, just because a lot of you guys are are asking about help with bras for maternity and I’m struggling as well.’
Motioning to the bra she was wearing, she continued: ‘This is an old one that just about fits, not really. So I’m going to go to their team, do an in-person and I’ll let you know what kind of bras I find and if any of them are helpful.’
She added: ‘These are my Spanx jeans. I’m still kind of like not used to the fact that they’re so low, because I’m used to having my buttons up here, so it feels really weird. But they are super comfortable.’
Update pending: The London-based influencer and DJ took to Instagram on share a shot of herself modelling her own black bra as she discussed her need to update her collection
Fitting: Cradling her baby bump as she filmed herself, she said, ‘I’ve decided to go and get a bra fitting… just because a lot of you guys are are asking about help with bras for maternity’
Her post comes one day after she hit back at one of her followers who asked why she doesn’t gift her ‘free stuff’ to a struggling mother who can’t afford the products.
The mother-to-be hosted a Q&A session to her Instagram on Thursday where one person wrote: ‘How do you feel accepting free stuff? Would you not give it to a mother who can’t afford it?’
Ashley responded to the question and admitted that the comment insinuated that she was ‘selfish’ and doesn’t ‘do her bit for society’.
The former Made In Chelsea star insisted that she often sends her ‘free stuff’ to women’s shelters.
Old one: Motioning to her bra, she continued, ‘This is an old one that just about fits, not really’
Ashley also revealed that she won’t be entitled to maternity leave and has to pay an accountant as she’s not on a PAYE scheme, explaining how ‘free stuff’ and ‘ads’ contribute towards her income.
Posting the follower’s question, she responded with: ‘When I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch I got 40% discount. It was a perk of my job I could share with friends and family in return for my hard work on not great pay.
‘When I worked at ITSU I got to eat free sushi everyday, an amazing perk I still miss. But that was in return for extremely long hours and a lot of stress. Now, as part of my current job I am lucky that I get sent things.
‘But it’s not necessarily ‘free’, it’s a business transaction as I promote a business (and by the way I wouldn’t talk about every product I got free, I only share or accept the things I actually use and like.)
Comfortable: She added, ‘These are my Spanx jeans. I’m still kind of like not used to the fact that they’re so low… But they are super comfortable’
‘It takes time to produce the content, but also it helps brands with sales. And you guys sometimes find things you need or want/ I have integrity with it.
‘And I also always tag and talk about brands whether I’m paid for or not and even when I’ve bought it myself. I share the things I like. However… I don’t get maternity leave, I’m not on PAYE so I have to pay for an accountant.
‘And I don’t have the same job security as I did working for a company. Some people travel a lot as part of their jobs, some people are handymen and can avoid paying contractors. We all have different pros and cons to our jobs.
‘Next the assumption I should give everything to people who can’t afford insinuates I’m selfish and don’t do my bit for society. It’s a false assumption, and for the record, I often send things to women’s shelters.
‘But equally, do you ask the same question to people who get staff discounts? To people who travel for work to give up their flights? Or to people who get maternity leave to give up their leave? I presume no!’
Hitting back! On Thursday, the star hit back at one of her followers who asked why she doesn’t gift her ‘free stuff’ to a struggling mother who can’t afford the products
Q&A: Ashley hosted a Q&A session to her Instagram on Thursday where one person wrote, ‘How do you feel accepting free stuff? Would you not give it to a mother who can’t afford it?’
She signed off her fiery post with: ‘I hope this helps change your perspective or opinions over the ‘free stuff’ I get (which I am always very grateful for).’
It comes after Ashley admitted earlier this week that she never dreamed of becoming a mum and may not have had children if she didn’t fall pregnant in lockdown.
The DJ, who is expecting her first baby with boyfriend Tom Andrews, 30, told MailOnline she fears losing her identity when she becomes a mother, after spending years living in London as a single woman and prioritising her career.
She also confessed to struggling with her ‘unpredictable’ breasts that often attract ‘unwanted attention’ after they increased by five bra sizes as a result of her pregnancy.
Assumptions! Ashley responded to the question and admitted that the comment insinuated that she was ‘selfish’ and doesn’t ‘do her bit for society’
In an exclusive interview, Ashley, who is 20 weeks pregnant, explained she hasn’t always had conventional feelings towards motherhood but insists you can still be ‘an amazing mum’ even if it’s not something you visualised from a young age.
She told MailOnline: ‘It has never been my dream to be a mum. I don’t coo over other people’s children, especially if I don’t know them.
‘I feel like I don’t want to lose my identity when I become a mum. For me to be the best mum is for me to still be who I am.
‘That’s why I’m happy it’s been taken out of my hands because if it came down to planning, I don’t know if I ever would have.
Paying it forward: The former Made In Chelsea star insisted that she often sends her ‘free stuff’ to women’s shelters
‘I’m still very career focused and I like to invest time in my friends, having children shouldn’t mean you have to change.
‘When I said I wasn’t maternal a lot of people were like “good luck bringing up a child if you’re not going to care for it.”
‘I have no doubt that this baby is going to be so loved. You can still love your child and be an amazing mum without it having been a dream.
‘I just worry I’m going to end up with an army of men having not wanting children in the first place!’
Pregnancy: Ashley also revealed that she won’t be entitled to maternity leave and has to pay an accountant as she’s not on a PAYE scheme