Ashley Cain admits he's had a 'turbulent time' since the birth of his son Aliyas, as he vows to 'honor' late daughter Azaylia

Ashley Cain has admitted he's had a “turbulent time” following the birth of his son Aliyas Diamond Cain.

The TV personality, 33, revealed last year he was expecting a son with a long-time boyfriend after he and ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee, 36, tragically lost daughter Azaylia.

The former Ex On The Beach star took to his Instagram Stories to thank fans for their support since the birth of his son.

He wrote: 'I would like to thank you all for the love, support and kind messages I have received over the past few days. It's been a turbulent time, as you can imagine.

'But one that has been worth all the sticks, the stones and the storms that have come with it. I am a proud and loving father to both of my children and nothing will ever change that.

“So all that matters to me now is honoring my daughter in heaven and caring for my son on earth. No matter what happens, MY CHILDREN COME FIRST. It's that simple.'

Ashley announced the birth of his son this week and shared a cute photo on Instagram and written: 'Aliyas Diamond Cain – 16.01.24, 04:32, 9lbs 3oz.

“I will love you, appreciate you, guide you and protect you with all my heart, for the rest of my life.”

'You will have the most beautiful guardian angel that heaven will watch over you and protect you too. Welcome to the world, my son.”

Ashley added, “May your body be strong, your mind wise, your heart loving and your mind pure and truly powerful.”

Ashley did not reveal the identity of the mother of his second child, but confirmed that while they are not together, they have been friends since they were 18 and have dated on and off over the years.

Shortly before Ashley shared his baby announcement post, Safiyya took to Instagram to share a selfie with the caption, “A brave face is sometimes all we have when we get by in this world.”

“If you're wearing yours today, keep going. You're not alone, because I wear mine. Be kind to others, you never know what they are going through.”

She went on to say that she had been inundated with messages from followers saying they were doing the same thing she advised to “be gentle” and try to “love yourself a little more every day.”

Safiyya has said she is heartbroken that Ashley fathered a child with someone else and claims he asked her to try for a second baby with him after their divorce. She hoped for a reconciliation, but admits that she had not been explicit about it.

Last month, Safiyya said both she and Ashley struggled with their grief and later moved from their home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

She said The sun on Sunday: 'He had something to drink, it was quick and brutal. He said he couldn't do it anymore.'

Former footballer Ashley and Safiyya raised more than £1.5 million to fund Azaylia's specialist treatment before her death and later donated the unused money to the Azaylia Foundation, which aims to support families and provide memorable experiences for children who fighting cancer.

Safiyya said The Challenge star Ashley turned to booze and fundraising and she put his needs first but longed for love and attention from him.

Ashley moved in with his aunt and Safiyya later did the same despite the split, with the couple having separate rooms in the same house.

She said she had always gotten along well with his family and that because she had known him for so long, she saw his loved ones as her own family.

Safiyya claims that Ashley then suggested having another baby, but she wasn't sure about it as she didn't want her child to think they were born to fill the 'void' left by their firstborn Azaylia.

In June this year, Safiyya moved out of Ashley's aunt's house and bought her own property, thinking some space between her and her ex would do them good.

They continued to work on the foundation they had created in Azaylia's name, talking about it every day, and she waited, hoping he would ask her to join him again.

But Ashley told her that he had a child with another woman, even though he was not in a relationship with her.

She said, “He didn't tell me who she was, and again, I wouldn't ask.”

Bursting into tears, she added: “That's the heartbreaking thing about it. Even when he told me, I put him first so he didn't feel guilty for telling me. Inside I was screaming and crying.”

Safiyya sought help from a therapist in an attempt to process her feelings and decided to visit Azaylia's garden to tell her what was happening in her life.

However, when she arrived, she couldn't bring herself to say out loud that Ashley was having a child with someone else.

Speaking about becoming a father for the second time last year, Ashley admitted on Good Morning Britain: 'It was different because I felt a bit guilty, I felt a bit hurt for Azaylia and I didn't really expect this to be the would be the case.'

Ashley continued, “But very quickly, like me, I took on the responsibility of being a father. I realize that every child is a blessing and I put myself in the right frame of mind and thought about it for a long time.

'[I’m going to] be the best person I can be for my son coming into this world, and that's what I plan to do.”

When host Ed Balls asked if this baby news made him feel “at odds with loss and opportunity,” Ashley responded, “100 percent.”

'I think I was meant to be a father. I love children, I love the children of my family and it's hard every time to see them because I always think that's what Azaylia should do now… I think that will be the case with my son.'

Ashley said Azalyia would have loved a little brother and is looking forward to becoming a father again.

But Ashley's strength was tested again when the couple discovered their baby has a possible heart defect during the 20-week scan.

He explained that the doctors could not find the connection between one of the valves and the heart, which of course scared the star.

Although he is concerned about his son's health after his tough journey with Azaylia, he said he will have a scan done once he is born to double check his health.

If you are struggling with the loss of a child, please contact Sands on 0808 164 3332 or helpline@sands.org.uk

For help and support in caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, contact Together for Short Lives on 0808 8088 100 or visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk