Hollyoaks star Kirsty-Leigh Porter has revealed that she has given birth to a surprise baby, almost two years after her daughter Penny-Leigh was tragically stillborn.
The soap actress, 31, announced on Wednesday that she has welcomed a child with her partner Paul Barber, after keeping her pregnancy a secret from her fans.
Kirsty-Leigh, who plays Leela Lomax on the Channel 4 show, shared a black-and-white snap from hospital on her Instagram, showing her beau carrying their newborn in a car seat.
New baby: Hollyoaks star Kirsty-Leigh Porter has revealed that she has given birth to a surprise baby, almost two years after her daughter Penny-Leigh was tragically born stillborn
She simply captioned the touching snap with a flood of emojis, including a baby, stars, praying hands and a rainbow.
A rainbow baby is a term used for a child born to a family that has lost a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth.
Kirsty-Leigh was quickly flooded with sweet messages of congratulations after she revealed the couple’s happy news.
Doctor Who actress Mandip Gill penned: ‘aghhhh congratulations to you both’
Secret pregnancy: Kirsty-Leigh, 31, who plays Leela Lomax on Hollyoaks, shared a sweet snap on her Instagram, showing her beau Paul Barber carrying their newborn in a car seat
While Hollyoaks co-star Anna Shaffer wrote: ‘Oh wow Kirsty! So happy for you, what lovely news xxx’
And another Hollyoaks actress, Ruby O’Donnell, gushed: ‘The best thing to happen this year!!❤️ so much love’
In December 2018, Kirsty-Leigh’s baby girl Penny-Leigh Barber was tragically born stillborn at just 29 weeks and three days old.
Saying she had ‘never felt pain like it’, Kirsty-Leigh shared a picture which showed a card she and Paul had received from the NHS following their devastating loss.
She emotionally penned in the post: ‘Our beautiful baby girl, Penny-Leigh Barber was born sleeping on the 21st of December 2018 at 6.49am, 29 weeks & 3 days young.
Loved-up: Kirsty-Leigh has welcomed her surprise baby with partner Paul (both above) after keeping her pregnancy a secret from her fans
‘My heart has never felt pain like it. Sleep sweetly our angel. We will always love you. Love your Mummy & Daddy My Everything.’ (sic)
She also paid a touching tribute to her late daughter on what would’ve been her due date in March last year, admitting she was ‘dreading’ the day.
She wrote: ‘Today is your due date, 5th of March 2019. I never would have imagined feeling how I feel about it today.
‘For the last few weeks I have been dreading this day.
‘What a huge contrast to the months of excitement I felt from the moment we were told you would be due here today.
Devastating: In December 2018, Kirsty-Leigh’s baby girl Penny-Leigh Barber was tragically born stillborn at just 29 weeks and three days old
The TV star (pictured as Leela Lomax on Hollyoaks) said she had ‘never felt pain like it’ after the devastating death of her child on December 21, 2018
‘After that very first scan, my life changed, and it became all about you, after the dating scan, everything was all leading up to this date.
‘The date I could NOT wait for, is finally here and it’s nothing how I had thought it would be. I can’t help imagining, would you have been here by now?
‘Or would you have kept us waiting longer and stayed tucked up past today?
‘Either way I don’t get to hold you in my arms … I wish I would have treasured much more every single flutter I felt, every little movement, every little kick you gave me whilst safely wrapped up inside my tummy, if only I knew then how much they would mean now. Sleep well baby girl’ (sic)
Sands (stillbirth and neonatal death charity) supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. Call their Freephone helpline on 0808 164 3332, email [email protected].
Emotional: The soap star also paid a touching tribute to her late daughter on what would’ve been her due date in March last year, admitting she was ‘dreading’ the day