Former Strictly star Katya Virshilas welcomes a baby boy
Mother and baby are doing well.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Katya Virshilas has welcomed her first child with husband Klaus Kongsdal.
A representative for the couple confirmed to HELLO! magazine, 'Katya Virshilas and Klaus Kongsdal are delighted to announce the birth of their beautiful baby boy. Mother and baby are doing well.'
There's no word yet on what baby name the couple have chosen for the new arrival.
Katya, 32, announced her pregnancy to HELLO! in November 2015, saying 'I can't hide it any more – my bump is quite big!'
Katya pictured with fellow Strictly dancer Kristina Rihanoff, who is also expecting
Klaus, who is also a ballroom dancer and coach himself, added at the time, 'They [the baby] will be surrounded by dance competitions and dance shows. I think dancing helps you learn a lot, including how to respect women.'
Katya has been sharing bump updates on her social media accounts
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The couple, who married in 2012 in a fairytale chateau in the Loire Valley in France, had previously conceived a child in 2014. However, during the pregnancy Katya sadly found out that the baby's heart was no longer beating, and had to have an operation to remove the underdeveloped egg.
Heartbreakingly, the discovery was made on Klaus' 40th birthday.
'I was elated,' said Katya. 'But the doctor looked at the scan and just went very quiet. He then told us there wasn't a heartbeat.
'I had a party planned for Klaus' birthday and I didn't want to cancel so I was texting my friends from the hospital bed asking them to pick up the cake.
'I was out of the hospital by 6pm and sitting down for dinner by 8pm. I was completely glassy-eyed. It wasn't until the next morning when everything hit me. I was in hysterics.'
Katya made her first appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, where she was partnered with cricketer Phil Tufnell. She and Strictly dancer Pasha Kovalev also toured the UK with their own dance show in 2012.
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