Festive families welcome little tots into the world

These couples celebrated Christmas and New Year with their brand new babies.

Christmas dinner was called off for Claire Larkin and Steve Brown, of Rydal Drive, after Claire went into labour on Christmas day morning.

“We had planned to go to Claire’s mum’s for Christmas dinner,” said proud dad Steve.

“Claire was in hospital by 11.30am and we couldn’t have anything to eat so we just ended up scoffing on some fruit pastilles Claire found in her bag.”

Baby Tobias arrived at 7pm weighing a healthy 6lbs 4oz. He is the couple’s first baby.

Said Claire: “He was due on 1st January but the whole time I was pregnant I said it would be just my luck for him to arrive at Christmas.”

“As soon as I started with my contractions we just laughed - you couldn’t make it up.”

The happy couple said they wanted to thank their midwife on the Bassetlaw Hospital labour ward, Gwen Watts, for looking after them.

Said Claire: “She was brilliant. She sat with us the whole day.”

Baby Tobias even got his own Christmas present from the ward, a knitted shawl made by volunteers.

Said Steve: “It has been an extra special Christmas this year, and it will be for years to come.”

Another family who added a new life to their festivities this Christmas was Simon and Emily Nicholass.

They welcomed baby girl Caitlin Ida into the world on 25th December at 11.17am.

She had been due on 13th January. But she weighed in at a healthy 6lbs 5oz despite being more than two weeks premature.

Emily, of Kensington Way, Worksop, said Cailtin’s arrival had changed their Christmas plans for the better.

“She makes our pile of presents under the tree pale into insignificance,” she said.

“She truly is the best Christmas gift we could have wished for.”

Caitlin’s arrival was a big surprise for all the family. Emily is diabetic so she was scheduled in for an induction the following week.

“Simon and I had our traditional Christmas eve at home and went to bed as normal,” said Emily.

“I woke up at 2am feeling a bit funny and realised my waters had broken.”

Emily was looked after closely by all the staff at Bassetlaw Hospital, who tried to ensure the delivery was complication-free.

“They were amazing, right from the moment we arrived,” said Emily.

Simon’s parents had travelled up from near Reading to spend Christmas with the couple, and were delighted to help them welcome their first child.

Said Emily: “It was a special treat for them and great for us to have the extra help.”