WITH the cost of living crisis forcing the nation to count their pennies many women will be considering whether they can afford to have children full stop.
But that wasn’t a concern for Ashley Stobart who forked out a whopping £25,000 on a birthing package to welcome her second child Teddy Wolf in April.
And while many have blasted the purchase as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unnecessary’, Ashley, who is married to millionaire haulage heir Ed Stobart, argues that she is doing other mums a favour.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, the mum-of-two says: “I was previously a manager at a hospital for five years so I understand the pressure the NHS is under.
“There’s not enough staff, it’s one midwife to 30 people, I believe it is actually unsafe for women to have a baby in this country now.
“Luckily I was in the position where I could afford to go private and even if I wasn’t I think I would have got a loan out to do it.
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“And let’s face it by opting to go private I have freed up a bed in NHS hospitals, I am doing mums a favour really.”
Ashley, who had her eldest Saskia on the NHS, opted to give birth at the Portland Hospital in London’s Westminster, the very same hospital where Meghan Markle welcomed her firstborn Archie Harrison.
The cost of her birthing package at the American-owned clinic included a three night stay at the venue as well as all medical fees.
However, food and drink – of which Ashley enjoyed an heirloom tomato and halloumi salad, tuna sandwich and a bag of Tyrrells washed down with a bottle of Moet – was not included.
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But before even setting foot in the hospital, Ashley and Ed forked out hundreds of pounds to stay at Mayfair’s Langham hotel with rooms starting at £640 a night.
The couple dined on takeaways from the high end Chinese restaurant Park Chinois with rice dishes starting at £27 and Ashley had her hair extensions preened at the Inach salon to ensure she looked her best for the birth.
But the mum insists that luxury was nothing to do with her decision to go private.
“I didn’t do it because I was being really extra, I did it for my own safety,” Ashley says.
“On the flip side it was lovely, I had a bottle of champagne after the delivery, I had three nights where Teddy was in the nursery, I had physio, I had a nurse I could ring at any point.
“It seems so unattainable because it is often associated with royalty – I was very open about the price and lots of people have told me they’d now consider the same.
“A lot of people don’t talk about things like that because they’re scared they’re going to be judged.
“I did have people ask me whether I thought spending £25k was excessive
“Would you ask your husband that if he bought a £25k Mercedes – would they f***.”
Ashley is no stranger to criticism.
She and best pal Lauren Harris became the targets for cruel trolls after they confessed to having a combined £63,000 worth of cosmetic surgery.
In a bid to take back control the two mums launched their podcast "Nip, Tuck, Not Giving a F***" where they discuss everything from surgery to sex and found a way to poke fun at their trolls.
What was in Ashley’s hospital bag
- Portable GHD straighteners
- Alkaline water
- Dash water
- Supplements
- Feminine wipes
- Charcoal tablets
- Hospital organiser
- Supernova powder
- Peppermint tea
- Hermes Avalon towel
- Jo Jo Mamamn Bebe sleep suit
- Bibibamba bear
What the NHS recomends bringing
For yourself, you'll probably want to pack:
- your birth plan and hospital notes
- something loose and comfortable to wear during labour that does not restrict you from moving around or make you too hot
- 3 changes of loose, comfortable clothes
- 2 or 3 comfortable and supportive bras, including nursing bras if you're planning to breastfeed
- breast pads
- 2 packets of super-absorbent sanitary or maternity pads
- 5 or 6 pairs of knickers – you may want to bring some disposable ones
- your washbag with a toothbrush, hairbrush, flannel, soap, lip balm, deodorant, hair ties and other toiletries
- towels
- things to help you pass the time and relax
- a fan or water spray to cool you down
- front-opening or loose-fitting nighties or tops if you're going to breastfeed
- dressing gown and slippers
- healthy snacks and drinks
- extra pillows
- a TENS machine if you intend to use one
- any medicines you're taking
for the baby, you might want to pack:
- bodysuits, vests and sleepsuits
- an outfit for going home in
- a hat, scratch mittens and socks or booties
- plenty of nappies
- a shawl or blanket
- muslin squares or bibs
- a car seat for the trip home
But they weren’t always so steely.
“We were obsessive about reading our trolls' comments,” Lauren says.
“I would wonder if people in the supermarket were trolling me online and it made me so paranoid.
“That’s why we ended up doing the podcast so that we didn’t want to run away from it and we could do well off the hate we had.”
Ashley agrees, adding: “We turned a bad situation around and made it embarrassing for them.”
While Ashley and Lauren are in full support of those who have cosmetic surgery, they insist that women be honest when they have it.
“We both have daughters who are growing up in the Kardashian generation, it’s so toxic,” Ashley says.
“We’re exposed to all of these women who are all of a certain shape and certain size who will deny having any surgery.”
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Lauren adds: “Of course if you don’t want plastic surgery, don’t have it but if you do and have had it done you need to admit it!”
You can listen to ‘Nip, Tuck, Not Giving a F***’ now on iTunes
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