Mum welcomes ninth baby, first grandchild two days apart
A MEATH mother celebrated the birth of her first grandchild recently – just two days before she went into labour herself with her ninth child.
Niamh Barry’s new baby boy Archie is an uncle – but younger than his nephew Cole, who was born to Niamh’s oldest daughter Serena.
The Navan mum said she was relieved Serena “had it all over” before she went into labour herself.
Niamh (40) already had four girls and four boys – Serena (19), Karlie (17), Jasmine (15), Sarah Jane (13), Alvin (11), Harvey (9), Gareth (6) and Corey (4) before Archie arrived in Mullingar General Hospital on May 22, weighing 9lb 14oz.
The new gran was already celebrating the birth of first grandchild Cole Devoy, who was born in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in Drogheda, Co Louth, on May 20, weighing 8lb 3oz.
“I always wanted a big family anyway and there are seven children in my husband Alan’s family, so it seemed like the natural thing to do,” she said.
“I had the four girls first and then the five boys, but I’m so used to it that I find it as easy as having one.
“I was worried about Serena, like any mum would be, and I was in a bit of a panic, so once she had the baby and I knew everything was OK, I kind of relaxed and concentrated on my own impending labour.
“I was trying to keep this pregnancy quiet as long as I could, but my daughter Jasmine saw the scan on my phone and showed Serena – not knowing that Serena herself was pregnant.
“Alan and myself thought Serena was pregnant, I don’t know why.
“Then one day the doctor rang me and I didn’t answer because I thought it was about my pregnancy and I didn’t want to take the call while
Serena was in the room. But I saw panic in Serena’s eyes and then it dawned on me. She thought the doctor was ringing me to tell me about her pregnancy.
“About a week later, she came in and started walking the floors before she picked up the courage to tell us.
Sure, we were only delighted.
“It’s all a bit mad that I’m a new mum and also a new granny. I can’t get my head around it, looking at the size of them.
“Serena looks at Archie and she can’t believe the baby is her brother as she now has a son that age.
“We are obviously going to try and make sure that they grow up to be close friends, and we even brought Cole over on his first sleepover last week.
“We have even started thinking about sending them to the same school – an uncle and a nephew in the same class.”