Amber Le Bon has introduced her son, Sasha Echo Le Bon Mercer, 35 years after her own debut as a baby in HELLO! magazine. In an exclusive photoshoot at her parents’ Cotswolds home, Amber shares her joy with boyfriend Ben Mercer.
Sasha, born on January 30 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, weighed 7lbs 6oz. Amber’s partner Ben and her mother Yasmin were by her side during the 40-hour labor. “I couldn’t have done it without them,” Amber says.
Amber describes the labor as both calm and intense, with the last part requiring a forceps delivery. “I couldn’t believe it when Sasha was on my chest. I burst into happy tears.”
Amber and Ben, both 38, have been staying with Amber’s parents during flat renovations. The grandparents and Amber’s sisters have been a big help. “Staying here has taken the pressure off and let us settle into being parents,” she says.
Despite being pregnant, Amber joined her father, Simon, on Duran Duran’s U.S. tour. She fondly recalls calling her bump “Sparkles.”
Sasha, a “super-chilled” baby, looks just like Ben but with Amber’s lips and fingers. As for his name, Amber says, “We had two names on the shortlist. When Sasha was born, I knew he was a Sasha. Echo came from Greek mythology and flowed perfectly.”
