The Bachelorette's Shawn Booth announced the birth of his first child with girlfriend Audrey “Dre” Joseph on Wednesday night.
Five months after revealing to the world that he was going to be a father, the former reality star, who is a certified personal trainer, shared the exciting news with his more than 678,000 followers on his Instagram Story.
“Baby Booth arrived yesterday and is healthy and perfect,” he captioned a photo of his newborn's feet. “My mom is an absolute rock star and did a fantastic job!”
The TV personality continued, “Everything went super smoothly and we couldn't be more grateful. The best feeling in the world.'
First-time parents: The Bachelorette alum Shawn Booth announced the birth of his first child with girlfriend Audrey “Dre” Joseph on Wednesday night
They have not revealed the gender, name or further details about his or her birth.
Booth and Joseph, a photographer, met in 2018 after he hired her to take photos of his gym.
In July, he announced during an episode of his podcast that his partner was pregnant: In the Booth with Shawn Booth podcastnearly five years after his divorce from ex-fiancé Kaitlyn Bristowe.
“I've been in a relationship since the show. I've dated a few people. I had a girlfriend. I've always kept things very private,” he began on the July 17 episode of his podcast.
He continued, “December 12th, baby Booth on the way. It's happening. I am becoming a dad. The mother is someone I have had a good relationship with for years. We dated and dated.'
“This just isn't just any girl I met at Honky Tonk Central. This is a big surprise for both of us. …This wasn't planned.
'But it will be and is the most beautiful surprise I have ever had in my life. And it will be very special. I can not wait. I'm ready. I am 37 years old. I've always wanted to be a father.'
At the time, Booth was still keeping the identity of his child's mother a secret.
Too cute! Five months after revealing to the world that he was going to be a father, the former reality star, who is a certified personal trainer, shared the exciting news with his more than 678,000 followers on his Instagram Story.
“Baby Booth arrived yesterday and is healthy and perfect,” he captioned a photo of his newborn's feet. “My mom is an absolute rock star and did a fantastic job!” (seen last month)
He added that keeping his girlfriend's pregnancy a secret was a challenge.
'Going through a pregnancy and trying to keep it a secret is of course difficult. We didn't actually tell anyone. For example, she told her close family and friends,” he said.
“I probably waited 10 to 12 weeks before I told anyone. Just a few weeks ago she came back to my gym,” he explained.
He explained that “Nashville is a small town…so after that, everyone in Nashville pretty much knew everything.”
Dad mode: He previously joked to his social media followers that he was getting 'some practice reps' while holding a baby in September
Pleasant surprise: While talking about Joseph on his podcast, he clarified that they “had been close for years” and were not “some random girl” he “met at Honky Tonk Central”
And the Bachelor Nation alum had nothing but high praise for his baby's mother, also revealing that their upcoming child would have both last names.
'She'll be such a good mother. And it will be incredible. It's very overwhelming,” he said.
During her pregnancy, she said on his podcast that she “spent a lot of time in the bathroom and had trouble eating and keeping things down.”
For example: The reality TV star, 37, has kept his private life pretty secretive since splitting from Kaitlyn Bristowe in November 2018 (pictured)
“(I) had to get fluids a few times (and) ended up in the ER a few times. They couldn't find a heartbeat, (which was a whole other big drama). But we got through it,” Joseph told listeners last month.
To his horror, she also suggested that while she was giving birth, he should “go over there and cut the cord and be there to watch.”
However, Booth said he would “stay sane to provide some moral support” but that he “couldn't look at that.”
“But I feel like every dad I talked to (makes me think) I should just go in there and just put on a pair of gloves and help that thing out,” he noted.