Congratulations are in order for singer and actress Paloma Faith, who has announced the birth of her third child, a son. Taking to Instagram to share the news, Paloma, 44, reflected on the "painful" birth and thanked the healthcare team who helped her through it.
Sharing a sweet first photo of her son – whose name she has kept private – Paloma revealed the newborn's tiny hand clasped in hers in a black-and-white picture as she updated her one million Instagram followers.
"On Friday March 6th I had my third baby, a little boy," she wrote. "He was a bit early and ended up in the NICU for three days. The midwives and team around me were incredible, particularly @missclairemellonandassociates @pat_themidwife @thisisyourbaby365.
"Today we go home! As usual, it's not easy, I'm engorged already, day three intrusive thoughts, in love with my partner and my kids more than ever. Just taking it all slow. C sections ARE PAINFUL! He's perfect and wonderful. Breastfeeding is hard!"
Fans celebrate Paloma's baby news
Famous friends and fans were quick to take to the comments section to congratulate Paloma on the happy news, including several of her co-stars from The Celebrity Traitors, which she starred in last October.
Host Claudia Winkleman wrote: "Massive congratulations, brilliant news. All love," while Alan Carr penned: "Oh how wonderful. Congratulations darling!"
"Oh, this is so so wonderful!! Congratulations you fabulous mama and utterly gorgeous brilliant woman," added Kate Garraway.
Other well-known names also shared their congratulations, including broadcaster Elizabeth Day, who commented: "Congratulations my darling! I can only imagine the challenges of the last week and the complex and varied emotions you're feeling but you've got this. You're so, so strong," while Jesy Nelson wrote: "Well done Muma."
A welcome arrival
The Only Love Can Hurt Like This singer welcomed her baby boy with her music venue director partner Stevie Thomas. She has previously spoken about her fertility journey, including undergoing IVF and experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.
© Sam Simpson/Dave Benett/Getty ImThe new arrival also joins Paloma's two daughters, whose privacy she has long chosen to protect.
Paloma Faith's pregnancy journey
Announcing her pregnancy in October, Paloma shared snaps of herself with her baby bump alongside the caption: "Plot twist, mother is mothering (again)."
The 44-year-old later charted her pregnancy with candid updates, writing in December: "Pregnancy at 44. Ngl that's a bit worrying but I'm trying to pretend to myself I'm calm so that eventually that comes true. I couldn't be more happy about another baby and I'm bracing myself for the storm."
In February, Paloma also shared a glimpse of the final weeks of her pregnancy, writing: "It's hard to walk, hard to breathe, hard to sit, hard to get up and hard to move… I've also got the invisibility cloak on now – the one you get as a pregnant woman or an older woman where people ignore you or they are rude to you and you don't understand why.
"It's like you don't count anymore… but there is one person who makes me feel like making a baby is magical and empowering: woman of women, voyeur of voyeurs, empath of empaths and hero of mine: @alicesadventures."
