Broadcaster Kathryn Thomas has welcomed her first child with fiancé Padraig McLoughlin this Friday, saying she is "utterly in love."

The 39-year-old presenter’s new arrival came a week early, with both mum and baby doing very well.

A post shared by Kathryn (@kathrynthomasofficial) on

Sharing the great news on Instagram along with a picture of baby Ellie’s tiny feet, Kathryn says: “Ms Ellie Mcloughlin couldn’t wait any longer to meet us. Our gorgeous girl was born Fri 23rd March @ 10.02am.

“She is the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen and Mum and Dad are totally and utterly in love.”

Baby Ellie is particularly special to the couple as Kathryn suffered two miscarriages within the last three years.

Bravely speaking about losing two babies on The Late Late Show earlier this year, she said that she felt a huge degree of self-doubt, asking herself “Did I leave it too late, am I working out too hard, am I eating the right thing?”

“You go through self-blame, you go through ‘why me’, you go through ‘is it ever going to happen’ and it’s very testing on a relationship as well,” she told Ryan Tubridy.

Kathryn Thomas on the Late Late Show earlier this year: “Not a lot of women talk about it, but so many women go through miscarriage,” she said.

“The anxiety never leaves you… when it’s happened to you a couple of times.

“It is still a taboo subject in Ireland. I just think it needs to be part, and considered to be part, of the pregnancy process, because it is.

“It’s taken us three long years… until I have a baby in my arms, it’s still kind of weird for me to talk about it, but if it gives anybody hope out there that you can get to a place, and just to try and stay as positive as you can, even when you don’t feel it, that would be the only piece of advice I’d give to any couples out there.”

Despite the sonographer being concerned over little Ellie’s heartbeat during the 6 week scan, Ellie thrived and is now a happy and healthy new member of the McLoughlin family.

Kathryn has promised fans lots of pictures of her new arrival on her Instagram. Watch this space!