Ashley James celebrates the end of her breastfeeding journey by piercing her ears in a bit to 'represent the sacrifice and the loss that came with motherhood'

Ashley James celebrated the end of her breastfeeding journey by piercing her ears over the weekend.

The TV presenter, 37, opened up about the 'symbolic' gesture - which 'represents the sacrifice and the loss that came with motherhood'.

The former Made In Chelsea icon took to her Instagram page on Sunday sharing a very lengthy message alongside a clip of herself at an Astrid & Miyu store.

The star wrote: 'I always promised myself that as soon as I finished breastfeeding I’d celebrate by getting my ears pierced… but then I never got round to it when I finished my breastfeeding journey back in June.

'I suppose that sums up self care and doing things for ourselves as mums - often we’re so busy juggling work and motherhood, trying to stay on top of washing and cooking, trying to maintain a social life - often all the things we want to do for ourselves get put to the bottom of the pile.'

Ashley continued: 'Well I decided as soon as I came back from holiday I’d do something for myself, and I booked an appointment at Astrid & Miyu. 

'I got my 3rd lobe piercings and my rook pierced at the time, but when I got pregnant with Alfie my 3rd holes refused to heal and so eventually they healed up. 

'I remember thinking how much I loved my ears and I was so sad when they healed and I always said I’d get them done again. 

'It felt sort of symbolic that I felt like one person going in and felt different when lockdown ended,' she explained in the insightful caption shared with her 447K followers.

'I booked an appointment about a year ago to get my piercings done but I found out you can’t get piercings when breastfeeding and they turned me away.

'Again, it felt like another reminder of the sacrifice of motherhood and breastfeeding - feeling like any form of vanity or self loving was unimportant and impossible.

'It felt like coming back to myself - the version of myself that I was in February 2020.

'I talk a lot about the fact that flamingos lose their pink in motherhood and that I feel that I’m getting my pink back - but it just feels so significant. As small and silly as it is, my ear piercings represent the sacrifice and the loss that came with motherhood.'

'So I also decided to mark it with a new piercing - so I got a constellation on my helix to celebrate the new chapter of my life - where the old me and the new me get to merge, and so I’m like the old me but better! Like the phoenix rising from the ashes.

The presenter finished: 'If any of that makes sense or speaks to you, I hope you know that you will find your old self again too, but you’ll be a better version. ❤️'

It comes after the blonde stunner showcased her 'whole confident body' in a candid bikini snap amid her family's festive Mexico getaway.

The former MIC  star revealed that she'd embarked on the last minute trip alongside partner Tommy Andrews and their kids Ada, one, and Alfie, three, in order to spend Christmas with her sister who lives in the US.

Taking to Instagram the beauty posted a string of photos as she and her nearest and dearest enjoyed a spot of winter sun while little one also were treated to a visit from Santa. 

Ashley wore a red two piece while sitting by the pool and told followers she wanted to show off her whole body to hit back at 'diet culture messaging'.

The stunner showed off her curves and ample cleavage in the candid snap, declaring she was the 'most confident' she had ever felt.

She captioned the post: 'Postcards from the last few days in Mexico.It’s been so special getting to be with my sister and her family in the sunshine for Christmas. We haven’t seen them since last Christmas as they’re currently living in the US'.

'We’ve spent the first couple of days in a resort in Playa del Carmen, and it was the perfect spot to get settled in. Both kids were pretty run down when we got here and Alf still wasn’t well, b it he hasn’t had a rash since we left and they both seem to be better after a couple of days in the sunshine. We’ve also been dealing with lots of wake ups in the night because of the time difference, so it’s been nice to chill and all be together'.

'I have LOVED doing Christmas in the sunshine! It’s meant to be raining for the next few days which is a bit sad because we’re off to an island and there’s not much to do other than the beach. But we’re all together!'

She went on: 'Mexico has such a special place in my heart because I came here solo travelling and think it was really such a huge part of my self love journey. Travelling by myself allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone, learn new skills, and learn new hobbies'. 

'It was really what made me start loving being single and enjoying the freedom that chapter brought. It’s so nice to be back, even on a totally different type of holiday. It’s interesting to think how much has changed from 2018 to now. And it’s been SO nice to hang with the kids after such a busy couple of months'.

Ashley continued: 'I also wanted to show my whole confident body in the first pic because I know that the diet culture messaging is just waiting to try and convince you that you need to be the smallest shrunken version of yourself to be confident or worthy and it’s simply not true. I’m more body confident now than I ever have been'.

'Now we’re off on the boat in the rain, which will be interesting with 4 kids under 4!  As always if you want to know anything or have any questions, just let me know!  Sending you all lots of love '.