Hollyoaks star Kirsty-Leigh Porter gives birth to a surprise baby almost two years after devastating stillbirth
HOLLYOAKS star Kirsty-Leigh Porter has given birth to a surprise baby almost two years after the death of her stillborn daughter, Penny-Leigh.
The 31-year-old actress, who plays Leela Lomax, shared a picture from hospital of her partner Paul Barber carrying their newborn in a car seat.
The surprise baby reveal comes after Kirsty-Leigh kept her pregnancy a secret from fans.
She shared the image with a string of emojis including a rainbow and a baby.
A rainbow baby is a term for a child born to a family that has previously lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or death during infancy.
Kirsty-Leigh took a break from the soap last year after her baby girl was tragically delivered stillborn in December 2018.
Last year, Kirsty-Leigh paid tribute to her daughter on her due date as she shared a picture with the words: "Missing you comes in waves, Tonight I'm drowning."
Addressing the tot, her child with 41-year-old Paul, 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.
"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."
She concluded the heartbreaking post by writing: "Sleep well baby girl."
Kirsty-Leigh announced the terrible news in January, writing: "💔 Our beautiful baby girl, Penny-Leigh Barber was born sleeping on the 21st of December 2018 at 6.49am, 29 weeks & 3 days young.
"My heart has never felt pain like it. Sleep sweetly our angel. We will always love you. Love your Mummy & Daddy 💔 My Everything 💔."
Sands stillbirth and neonatal death charity supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. If you need help, call 0808 164 3332, email helpline@sands.org.uk or .