City’s special deliveries
Sunderland celebrated some very special Christmas Day deliveries with seven babies being born at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Among them was Thea Catherine Grogan who made an unexpected appearance four days early.
Dad Michael, said his wife, Natalie, was not due to have the baby girl until the end of the month, but went into labour in the early hours of Christmas Day.
The 38-year-old from Murton, said they woke their son Adam, five, up at 4am so they could watch him quickly open some Christmas presents before going to hospital.
Little Thea Catherine arrived at 11.32am, weighing 7lb 10oz.
Michael, an IT manager, said: “She is the best Christmas present.”
Louise Eccles, 28, didn’t really want her son to be born on Christmas Day, but had no choice because little Albie Eccles decided to make his appearance at 4.28pm on Christmas Day, weighing 8lb 1oz.
Hairdresser Louise and welder husband, Daniel, 28, from Ryhope, are also parents to daughter, Molly, four. 8am and baby Monaghan, whose baby as yet to be named, arrived at 5.30pm weighing 7lb 9.5oz.
Another youngster to make an early appearance was Ava Meghan Smith, who was born by emergency caesarean section at 6.53pm, weighing 6lb 10oz.
Washington’s Lesley Hill, 28, went into labour in the early hours of Christmas Day, despite not being due until December 31.
Her partner, 30, said there were a few complications and doctors decided the safest thing was to carry out a c-section, but thankfully mother and baby are both fine.