Lacey Turner reveals she chose not to breastfeed her baby son Trilby following his premature birth

Lacey Turner has revealed her son Trilby Fox’s premature birth influenced her decision not to breasfeed.

The EastEnders star, 33, told how Trilby was rushed to a specialist unit after he was born a week premature, meaning she had to prioritise getting him fed, rather than how he was fed.

Speaking to The Mirror’s Sunday Notebook, the actress said she was already in two minds about breastfeeding as she found it difficult with daughter Dusty, 18 months. 

Decision: Lacey Turner has revealed her son Trilby Fox’s premature birth influenced her decision not to breasfeed

She said: ‘I was 50/50 about doing it. I found it really difficult last time and Dusty found it stressful but I kept an open mind.

‘But then when he had to be in special care, I thought, “Instead of trying my hardest to pump and get everything going, let’s just keep it as easy as possible for everybody and keep him fed.”

‘He has his last feed at 11pm and then he wakes up around 3am, and then he’s not up again until 7am!’

Trilby spent two days in the special care unit with Lacey revealing she and husband Kay only got to spend a few moments with him before he was taken to the unit.

Premature: Trilby was rushed to a specialist unit after he was born a week premature, meaning Lacey had to prioritise getting him fed, rather than how he was fed

Premature: Trilby was rushed to a specialist unit after he was born a week premature, meaning Lacey had to prioritise getting him fed, rather than how he was fed

Lacey added that Trilby lost weight after he was born, dropping to 5lb 8oz, but is now well over his birth weight and is a ‘good eater’.

Trilby had fluid in his lungs, with Stacey staying in hospital for two days while Matt stayed at home to look after Dusty.

Lacey said it was ‘so strange’ to see Trilby, who had to go on a course of antibiotics, tied to lots of wires but she also realised how lucky she was when she spoke to other mothers in the hospital whose babies were born at 24 weeks.

Trilby is now at home and doing well, with Lacey adding that Dusty is besotted by her younger brother. 

Honest: The actress said she was already in two minds about breastfeeding as she found it difficult with daughter Dusty, 18 months

Honest: The actress said she was already in two minds about breastfeeding as she found it difficult with daughter Dusty, 18 months

Lacey spoke about becoming a mother of two during a recent appearance on ITV’s Loose Women.

She said: ‘It’s hard, I miss my sleep but it is so lovely. It’ll be so lovely when we’re able to go out. It’s lovely seeing them together. It just fills your heart.’

Lacey added she ‘still can’t believe I had a boy’ as she explained that she comes from a family of mostly girls.

Explaining her son’s name, she told the panel: ‘We worked with someone and she had a sister called Trilby Fox and I just loved the name and saved it for when I had a boy which I never thought I would.’

Happy couple: Stacey and her barber husband Matt Kay welcomed their second child into the world in February

Happy couple: Stacey and her barber husband Matt Kay welcomed their second child into the world in February

Explaining what labour was like amid the coronavirus restrictions, Lacey continued: ‘I had to go in by myself but he was there throughout the whole birth.

‘It would be so hard and horrible to do that on your own. Two hours after, he had to go. Trilby was whisked away straight away.

‘I saw myself panicking as I needed him to come to the shower with me to help me. I rushed myself out of bed and showered in case I needed anything.’

Because of her early labour, Lacey hadn’t finished shooting scenes for EastEnders and so was spotted on set just eight days after Trilby’s birth to tie up the loose ends.

Back to work: Because of her early labour, Lacey hadn't finished shooting scenes for EastEnders and so was spotted on set just eight days after Trilby's birth to tie up the loose end

Back to work: Because of her early labour, Lacey hadn’t finished shooting scenes for EastEnders and so was spotted on set just eight days after Trilby’s birth to tie up the loose end

The actress explained: ‘I had such a quick birth so I didn’t really have a tough time. I had a whole night’s sleep so I actually felt really good. I gave myself five days, called them and told them not to panic as I could do a couple of scenes. It was lovely actually.’

Of her maternity leave, Lacey previously explained to OK! Magazine: ‘EastEnders were amazing and accommodated the times I could work. The plan is to have six months off and go back in August.

‘So please, God, we’ll be able to travel to Ibiza so we can have a few months at our home there!’

Lacey and Matt have been together since they were both 15, with the romantic proposal taking place in September 2016 during a break in Venice.

The couple married in 2017 with a wild ceremony in Ibiza, with the partying continuing until 5am.

Doting mum: The actress welcomed her daughter Dusty (pictured) in July 2019 after announcing she was pregnant that February

Doting mum: The actress welcomed her daughter Dusty (pictured) in July 2019 after announcing she was pregnant that February