Coronation Street's Nicola Thorp has become a mum for the first time. The actress shared on Instagram that she and her fiance Nikesh Patel are now parents to a baby girl, saying they're "shattered" but "smitten".
Alongside her happy news, Nicola reminded her followers that not all mums are as lucky as her, urging fans to think about those in war-torn areas like Gaza.
Nicola penned: "We are delighted to say that we recently welcomed our beautiful baby daughter into the world. "Everything they say about birth being a rollercoaster of emotions is true.
We're shattered and smitten and everything in between. "Social media is a difficult place right now. If your timeline is anything like ours, it's filled with images of babies and children dying in conflict or living in fear and unimaginable danger. "It doesn't feel right to share our news on her without also acknowledging how fortunate we are that our baby is safe. "If like us you feel helpless, please consider donating to the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, who are responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and supporting pregnant women, new mums and their babies.