Ali Bastian has revealed the adorable name of her newborn daughter as she shared her “emotional rollercoaster” birth story.
The former Hollyoaks actress, 41, and husband David O’ Mahony welcomed their second child via Caesarean section at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London on February 11.
They also share daughter Isla, three, and decided to call their new addition Isabella Charlotte, with her middlename a nod to David’s grandfather Charles.
Bastian – who competed in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing – wasn’t initially sold on her baby girl’s name.
“I vetoed it initially,” she told OK! magazine, “but the name came back up again and I kind of put it through an actress database in my head.
“And I thought of Isabella Rossellini, who’s had to have so much strength, especially as she’s got older.
“She’s always been beautiful and rejected Hollywood ideas of womanhood. It just kind of stuck. We really liked it.”
She told the publication that Isla is already “besotted” with her new baby sister and has even given Isabella the nickname “Bingo”, after the little sister of cartoon character Bluey.
Isabella’s arrival wasn’t all plain sailing, however, as while the C-section had been pre-planned, when they turned up to the hospital for the booked appointment on February 9, they were turned away due to a lack of space.
Bastian had gestational diabetes and her sugar levels began to drop very low, meaning they had to stay in until the evening.
Two days later, they returned to the hospital when Bastian went hypoglycaemic (meaning her blood sugar levels were very low). After an injection of sugar, she was rushed into the theatre.
It was then found that the baby was in an “awkward position” and born with bruising as a result.
Bastian started haemorrhaging soon after the birth but luckily stabilised very quickly.
