Quiet time on the maternity units (From South Wales Argus)

Quiet time on the maternity units

10:30pm Tuesday 26th December 2006 in News

MIDWIVES at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and Nevill Hall Hospital had a relatively peaceful Christmas Day with only eight babies born in both hospitals.

At the Royal Gwent, baby Lexie was the first to arrive just after midnight to mum Karen Wall, of Ystrad Mynach.

Not only was Ms Wall, 24, able to get home in time for Christmas dinner with proud dad Lee Davies, 22, she was also able to celebrate her own birthday on Boxing Day.

When her labour started Ms Wall said she was hoping to have the baby on Christmas Eve but Lexie, who was actually due on December 15, had other ideas.

"It is special, she went that far over then to be born 10 minutes into Christmas Day - it was meant to be."

Jennifer King missed her dinner because she went into labour on Christmas morning but did manage to open her presents before her waters broke. "It was good timing," said Ms King.

She then spent the rest of the day in hospital but was given the greatest gift of all - her baby daughter Jorja Lewis - at 7.30pm.

Jorja, who weighed 6lb 7oz, is the first child of 23-year-old Jennifer and her partner Jason Lewis, 32, of Thornhill, Cwmbran. She was also an unexpected present as she was not due to make an appearance until January 7.

Ms King said she was the first Christmas Day baby in the family.

Three other families will also be celebrating a birthday on December 25 in the future. Julia Flynn, of Newport, gave birth to Houston at 12.25am; Julie Legge, of Blackwood, had a baby boy at 1.44am; Rachel Smith, of Chepstow, gave birth to Pearl at 11.17am.

Senior midwife Jenny Westwood said: "It has been a quiet Christmas."

At Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, Debra Baker's daughter Beatrice was born at 6.40am.

The 37-year-old said: "She was meant to be due on December 27 but she was just in time for us to enjoy Christmas lunch with the family and a little drink."

Beatrice weighed 7.9lbs and joined the family and her sister, 21-month-old Florence, at their home in Kemeys Commander, Usk.

Lucy Churches, 30, also had an early surprise when she went into labour at 3pm and gave birth to her second son Liam at 3.20pm, he weighed 6.2lbs.

"It all went so quickly really, he was early at 36 weeks and six days but itís nice to have him home for Christmas."

His three-year-old brother Jack gave him a kiss and a cuddle when the family arrived home on Christmas night.