Ben Foden has taken bonding with his newborn baby daughter quite literally by strapping her to his chest under his t-shirt.
The 34-year-old rugby ace became a dad again for the third time – welcoming his daughter with his wife of one year Jackie Belanoff Smith.
Ben and Jackie – who tied-the-knot last year after two weeks of dating – have been sharing adorable photographs and videos of their baby one-week-old girl, who they named Farrah.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Jackie shared a video of Ben happily eating some seafood at a table during lockdown – with the tiny girl concealed under his top.
Jackie playfully asked Ben: “What do you got in there?”
The sportsman joked he had “more lobster” – but then pulled back his t-shirt to reveal Farrah sleeping soundly against his chest, prompting a coo from Jackie.
The American businesswoman captioned the video: “@ben_foden completely embracing the skin to skin shirt I got him.”
She shared other photos showing family members cradling and cooing over Farrah – who seems to smile when having her cheek tickled.
Farrah arrived a few weeks ahead of schedule – with a health problem causing the birth to be induced at 37 weeks.
Jackie explained in a previous online post: “So with an original due date of June 12, a few weeks ago I developed cholestatis, which is an elevation in liver enzymes or something.
“I was getting super itchy and blood work showed concerning levels, and it was decided I needed to induce at 37 weeks which is technically considered term.
“After 24 hours of labor, I wasn't dilating, and she needed to be sectioned, so mom and Mark (my stepdad) scrubbed up and had her out in 30 mins.
“Ben cut the cord (which turned out to be super short, which is probably why she wasn't coming down naturally and helping me dilate).
“I am so in love with this little blessing, Ben has brought such joy and happiness into my life in only a year, and I have never felt more lucky in my life than in these moments.”
Ben was previously married to Irish pop singer Una Healy of The Saturdays.
The pair were married in June 2012 and welcomed two children together – an eight-year-old daughter named Aoife and a five-year-old son named Tadhg.
Ben and Una split in July 2018.
