Paloma Faith is a first-time mummy! The 35-year-old singer has welcomed her child with boyfriend Leyman Lahcine. Paloma announced the happy news to fans in a handwritten note posted on her Instagram page, revealing that despite a "difficult" delivery her newborn had arrived safe and sound.
"After a difficult birth resulting in an emergency caesarean I gave birth to my first child with whom I am over the moon, in love and delighted. What a trip!" she wrote. "It was all with the help of some incredible doctors, midwives and nurses at UCH NHS Hospital.
Paloma Faith has welcomed her first child with Leyman Lahcine
"The devotion, kindness and commitment shown by all of them was second to none and I am humbled by the whole experience. I really believe the NHS to be one of the greatest achievements of this country and it should be respected and protected by all."
She concluded: "So thank you to the NHS, Melissa Whitten, Georgia Seiti, Wendy Hill, all in the Fetal Assessment Unit and the Maternity Care Units. And god bless the NHS."
The star announced her big news on Instagram
Paloma announced the news of her pregnancy in August, telling fans they would have to wait for new music because she was starting a family. "I am going to take a short while off to have a baby," she said. "I spent my whole life wanting to be a mother and now the time has come for me to do so. I feel so lucky.
"So while you are all patiently waiting I would like you to know that I am grateful for your continued support and patience and I do hope that you will respect my new family with our privacy in a time which should be calm and without anxiety.
Paloma revealed she was expecting her baby in August
"I really do not want this child to be in the public eye as it won't have chosen to and I hope everyone can understand that. I am nervous and excited about being a mum and just need to be normal and low-key for a while…I want the baby to have the freedom of a normal life
"Pregnancy and motherhood is a very personal thing, daunting, new and worrying at times and I don't want to have to add to it by worrying about having to 'look' a certain way when pregnant…When I return I will be full of energy and excited to come and sing for you again."