Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas took their newborn son Roman Ravello home for the first time as they left the hospital on Monday, four days after announcing his arrival.
In the paid-for post promoting a car seat brand, the new mother, 28, held hands with her actor fiancé, 35, as they doted on their baby boy.
The former TOWIE star explained her ‘surreal’ first days as a parent as she wrote: ‘This was one of the most surreal moments of my life that I will cherish forever. When we left hospital to head home with our new baby.’
Tender moments: Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas took their newborn son Roman Ravello home for the first time as they left the hospital on Monday in a paid-for post
Lucy continued to detail her baby’s first journey home as she added: ‘On our way home I’ve never seen Ryan drive so slowly & sensibly in my life I sat in the back watching my beautiful boy One of the most important things to buy for your baby is a safe & reputable car seat.
‘It was so important to us. After lots of research & recommendations from mummy friends I decided to get the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size infant carrier.
‘Roman is one of over 50 million babies brought home in a @maxicosi_eu car seat! I chose it because of its top level safety standards.
‘As the baby grows you can remove the inlay so I’m hoping he’ll be in it for many months to come because I never want him to grow #maxicosi #pebblepro #ad.’ [sic]
Bundle of joy: The new mother, 28, and her actor fiancé, 35, welcomed their first son together on Thursday (pictured)
Candid: The former TOWIE star explained her ‘surreal’ first days as a parent, while promoting a car seat brand
Some of Lucy’s social media followers expressed their ‘disappointment’ at the TV star for sharing her experience through an advertisement, while others defended her decision.
One penned: ‘I don’t ever comment on things but I thought it was such a shame that such a milestone moment was only posted for the #ad. You haven’t posted much since baby arrived, but when you have it’s been for the ads and the [money].’
Another agreed: ‘Lovely photo @lucymeck1 but what a shame it’s an add . I know you need to earn money but this is such a special time.’
A third shared: ‘Jesus wept Instagram has gone Savage! Congratulations on your new baby, but sad that the going home post is now an advertisement opportunity too.
‘This would have been amazing if it wasn’t an ad’: Some of Lucy’s followers expressed their ‘disappointment’ at the TV star for sharing her experience through an advert
‘Using taking your newborn home as a way of making money. Cant believe these celebrities who pretend there sharing pics of special moments but there it is…… #ad.’
Others added: ‘This is such a special moment, and it’s quite sad you felt the need to turn it into an ad. Congratulations all the same.’
Throwing support behind Lucy, one fan commented: ‘Christ! Give them woman a break. She’s promoting a product she believes in and making money for her family. What is wrong is when people are not prepared to work and expect everyone else to pay for their children. [sic]
‘So what if she’s promoting it?’ Other social media users defended her decision
Another shared: ‘So what she’s promoting it so what she’s probably got it for free . In a world you can be anything -be kind Their 2 happy besotted people in love with their Baby boy. spread the love not the hate. We all need that right now.’ [sic]
A third agreed: ‘Congratulations to you both it’s the best thing ever being a parent – ignore the negative comments ‘’ if you’ve got nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all’’ #bekind #topoftheworldnewmum xx.’ [sic]
Others added: ‘Who cares if she’s getting paid for it or not you lot would if you’s had the chance , Jesus Christ such jealous people , the worlds a scary place right now and your all sitting at home giving ANOTHER person a hard time on social media… people never learn!! [sic]
Baby joy: Late last week, Lucy announced Roman’s birth on Instagram
‘A mum of a few days and already being lambasted , honestly. I doubt Lucy would post about something if she didn’t believe in it.
‘All the people having a dig because she has put an ad on need to give their heads a shake she is a working mummy and if she has been paid and given the seat free in exchange for an Instagram post good on her…
‘at least she is providing for her family I couldn’t even function to brush my hair for weeks after I’d had my first child so for her to be have to working already I take my hat off to her @lucymeck1 your baby is beautiful congratulations.’ [sic]
Congratulations: Within minutes, a host of Lucy’s famous pals flooded her comments section with congratulatory messages, including some of her former TOWIE co-stars
Late last week, Lucy announced Roman’s birth on Instagram, where she shared a snapshot of her bundle of joy’s hand and the lower half of his face as she simply shared his full name alongside a blue heart emoji.
Within minutes, a host of Lucy’s famous pals flooded her comments section with congratulatory messages, including some of her former TOWIE co-stars.
‘Thought you had gone a bit quiet,’ wrote Sam Faiers. ‘Huge congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy… ❤️ lots of love. Xxxx.’
Sam’s sister Billie Faiers responded to the post with the message: ‘Congratulations darling… lots of love to you all at this very special time.’
‘Ahhhhhh congratulations,’ said Kate Ferdinand, while Ferne McCann simply penned: ‘Congrats darling.’
The fitness guru announced her pregnancy in August, after Ryan proposed during a trip to Italy‘s Amalfi Coast in June. Ryan is already dad to Scarlett, 11, with his ex Tina O’Brien.
The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017. They brushed off split rumours in December 2018 after Lucy was pictured looking cosy with a man in a Dubai nightclub, believed to be her friend and business associate Adam Rossiter.
At the time, Ryan was said to be ‘in pieces’ over the pictures but the couple quickly moved on after Lucy explained it was her pal.
Congratulations! Lucy took to Instagram on the evening of her 28th birthday to announce that she is expecting her first child with Ryan and debuted her blossoming baby bump
Doting dad: Ryan also raises daughter Scarlett with his ex-girlfriend and former Coronation Street co-star Tina O’Brien, 35, who he was in a relationship with for six years
Lucy took to Instagram on the evening of her 28th birthday to announce she was expecting her first child with Ryan and debuted her blossoming baby bump in a figure-hugging red dress.
The ex Corrie star gifted Lucy a baby grow, which they held up for the snap as they revealed that they are set to welcome their first baby together following two years of dating.
Alongside the heartwarming shot, the reality star wrote: Best birthday present ‘I’ve ever had. Love you @ryanthomas84,’ with a baby emoji and a heart emoji included in the caption.
Brunette beauty Lucy opened up about her pregnancy journey and said she was starting to ’embrace’ her new body.
Over the moon: The couple confirmed they were expecting a baby boy with another sweet Instagram post in September
She wrote: ‘Although trying to keep this under wraps especially whilst on holiday really wasn’t easy, I’m now over 12 weeks and I’m starting to fall in love with & embrace my new, ever changing… ever expanding body.
‘I’m in awe of what my body is doing, creating another human! Yes 1 human I was worried with how big I got very quickly it was twins haha!
‘For the first time I feel content in myself and how I view my body. It feels like as soon as I became pregnant my priorities changed and I must admit this is definitely for the better.’
Lucy went through her pregnancy with her best friend Lydia Bright, who recently gave birth to a baby girl.
Throwback: The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017 and confirmed their romance in July after months of speculation (Pictured on the show in 2017)
Lydia previously revealed she found out she was pregnancy days before she was due to start filming Celebrity Hunted with Lucy and rang her to tell the news.
In an episode of The Brights podcast, Lydia said: ‘I’ll never forget the day we both found out we were pregnant.
‘Basically, we were both due to start filming on Celebrity Hunted, I thought it would be a good idea to do a pregnancy test a couple of days before because I was off birth control and it came back positive to my shock.
‘Because I fell pregnant very quickly, I gave Lucy a call, and she guessed that I was pregnant.
It’s a BOY! The former TOWIE star took to Instagram to share a sweet video of the moment she and Ryan, 35, discovered the sex of the baby in September
‘So she ran out and got a pregnancy test and called me 6 hours later and said she was pregnant as well. I mean, it’s crazy. You couldn’t write it.’
She also told Closer: ‘We’ve said they might end up dating in the future! We’ve also said they could be husband and wife one day – but then we’re so close we thought that might be quite weird because they’ll probably end up growing up like cousins.’
Both Lucy and Lydia shot to fame in 2010 with their starring roles in TOWIE, which led to their reality careers.
Oh, baby! Lucy went through her pregnancy with her best friend Lydia Bright, who recently gave birth to a baby girl (pictured in October)
