Kate Ferdinand is pregnant! The former TOWIE star confirms she is expecting her second child with husband Rio – three years after giving birth to son Cree

Kate Ferdinand is expecting her second child with former footballer Rio three years after giving birth to son Cree.

The former TV personality confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Sunday morning, revealing a prominent baby bump in a short black and white music video.

Captioning the post, punctuated with Minnie Riperton’s song Loving You, she wrote: “We’ve been praying for you.”

The news prompted an inevitable flurry of supportive comments from celebrity friends, with heavily pregnant Molly-Mae writing to Hague, “Congratulations Kate.”

Elsewhere, former TOWIE co-star Billie Shepherd wrote: “Congratulations darling,” while Georgia Kousoulou added, “Awww so happy for you.”

Former Love Island contestant Montana Brown was also among the well-wishers, writing: “Stop it, it’s awesome! Congratulations.’

Surprise: The former TV personality confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Sunday morning, revealing a prominent baby bump in a short black and white video clip

Congratulations Kate: The news prompted an inevitable outpouring of supportive comments from famous friends, including a handful of former TOWIE co-stars

Kate, who is also stepmother to Rio’s children Tate, Lorenz and Tia from his first marriage, welcomed son Cree to the retired footballer in December 2020.

The former TOWIE star previously opened up about her son’s “traumatic birth” after he was born by caesarean section.

Taking to Instagram shortly after his birth in December 2020, she wrote: “Day 11… What a bubble… We are so obsessed with our little angel Cree.

“It seems like I’ve been staring at him for hours, the kids and seeing him is literally what dreams are made of, I feel completely overwhelmed.

“I wanted to share it with you. This is me…and let me add that this is a much better version of me than I have been in the last 10 days.”

Proud mum: Kate welcomed son Cree, her first child with husband Rio Ferdinand, in 2020

Blended family: The former TOWIE star is also stepmother to husband Rio’s children Tate, Lorenz and Tia from his first marriage

She added: “After an emergency caesarean section and a somewhat traumatic birth, I’m completely exhausted.

“The joy was overwhelming, but so were the tears and emotions. I feel like I can’t do what I need to do with Cree because I haven’t been able to move or feed him consistently. I feel all kinds of guilt for Cree, Rio and not being able to do what I normally do for the kids.

“It’s a whirlwind that I just didn’t expect … but at the same time the most perfect whirlwind.”

Kate has been open about her struggles being a stepmother to Rio’s three children with her first wife, Rebecca – who died of breast cancer in 2015 – and being pregnant while dealing with mental health issues.

Speaking to the Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast, she said: The lockdown was an experience. Of course I was pregnant and the kids didn’t know, and one thing I struggled with was being pregnant with my first biological child and still being a mom.

“So I felt like I had all these new experiences … but I was still a stepmother or a mother figure to three kids.” I struggle with my mental health. Being active daily helps with my anxiety, so I struggle when I can’t do things.

She added: “I’m quite emotional. I feel a little unsure. I feel like I’m not who I am and I’ve been struggling with this for a while…I feel insecure about my appearance and my changing body and I know it sounds very shallow…but I’m struggling with how I am You have to dress for it… Everything you know has changed.”

The star gave her first interview after announcing her pregnancy to MailOnline in June, where she said she was “tired” but was “listening to her body”.

Discussing how her energy has changed since becoming pregnant, she said: “I think pregnancy changes, sometimes you’re a bit more tired, but I try to stay active because it’s good for my spirit.”