Gosport nursery worker gave birth at QA Hospital just an hour into Christmas Day

Hannah Flint and Steven Parsons from Elson, Gosport, had the first baby born on Christmas Day at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

Grace Elizabeth Parsons was born at 1.17am, weighing in at seven pounds and nine ounces.

The couple were delighted to have their very own Christmas miracle to add to the family.

Hannah, a 26-year-old nursery worker, said: ‘My waters broke at 9pm on Christmas Eve, and she was born a few hours later.

‘I was on gas and air the whole time so it wasn’t too bad.

‘She’s doing really well – she’s very sleepy at the moment though.’

Having previously settled on a baby name, Hannah and Steven changed the newborn’s name to Grace at the last minute, so that it could be something ‘more festive’.

Grace will be one of two children in the household, joining her older sister Charlotte, who is four.

Charlotte is particularly excited about the prospect of a new sibling.

Mum Hannah said: ‘Charlotte said it was the best Christmas ever – that was really sweet of her.

‘It has been an amazing Christmas, and such a beautiful gift.

‘We were home by 7am so still had the rest of the day, but where we were all so tired we had Christmas Day on Boxing Day instead.

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‘People are asking what we’re going to do, having Christmas Day and a birthday on the same day; we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.’

For the meantime, Hannah, Steven, Charlotte and Grace are happy to simply be spending time with one another.

Hannah had been due to give birth on Boxing Day, so the family knew a Christmas Day baby could be on the cards.

She has also thanked staff at QA for their support during Grace’s birth.

‘For our midwide, Darcy Leake, this was her first Christmas shift,’ Hannah said.

‘She was absolutely amazing, as were the rest of the hospital staff working at Christmas.

‘We were all joking around about being the first Christmas baby, and then it actually ended up happening.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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