Gemma Atkinson silences critics by explaining why she is charging for daughter Mia’s baby photos

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma Atkinson welcomed her first child Mia in July 2019.

The new mum has now enforced a strict policy when it comes to using photographs of her daughter - and it's for a great cause. 

The mum-of-one, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez, will charge publications who use images of Mia a set amount per photograph, with proceeds going to Bolton Hospital, where she gave birth. 

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She explained on her Instagram page that 'after having paps outside my house after having Mia,' that she has ‘enlisted a licensing agency to use copyright law to bill any usages of her images with the monies raised going to Bolton Hospital’.

The star continued: ‘This is why we decided from the very start to not do any press shoots or interviews of me, my bump, or us with Mia despite having various offers from most magazines.’

Gemma feels a special connection to Bolton Hospital and their staff, after going through a traumatic birthing experience, where she had to undergo an emergency c-section.

Read more: Gemma Atkinson reveals traumatic moment she was rushed to A&E during pregnancy

She wrote on Instagram a few weeks after the birth: 'It wasn't what I'd planned but thanks to my hypnobirthing despite the madness & panic, I was able to calmly keep my breathing technique & accept whatever is best for Mia just do it! 2hrs later I was alone with Gorks & Mia blissfully happy in a ward when I suddenly felt extremely unwell.'

She continued: ‘Gorka got a doctor and she took one look at me & again pressed the panic button. I was having a hemorrhage. 

‘A big one & I lost a lot of blood. I don't remember much other than having around 9 doctors in the room, some injecting me, hooking me to drips, physically pulling clots out of me & one comforting Gorks who was beside himself in the corner. 

‘I woke in another room with Gorks & my family there, Mia sleeping soundly & a lovely midwife named Di who was checking my notes. The trauma was over & thanks to our NHS & incredible hospital staff we were ok.’