Surprise delivery as baby Aurelia is Scotland’s first Christmas birth
From unexpected arrivals to Christmas greetings from those far away, there was still festive joy, writes Helen Mcardle
CHRISTMAS morning brought an extra special delivery for a couple in Renfrewshire, who welcomed Scotland’s first Christmas Day baby just minutes after midnight.
Baby girl, Aurelia, arrived at four minutes past midnight at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley to delighted parents Agata and Artur Musialak, aged 36 and 39.
Aurelia, who is the third daughter for the Paisley couple, was born ahead of her January 2 due date after Mrs Musialak was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve. Her waters had broken but she was not experiencing contractions.
“I didn’t expect that,” said Mrs Musialak when asked how it felt to have given birth to Scotland’s first Christmas Day baby.
In Ayrshire, Danielle Sievewright and Billy Mcclung, from Kilmarnock, said hello to their son soon afterwards, at 12.27am at Ayrshire Maternity Unit.
John James Mcclung, born 7lb 4oz, is thought to have been Scotland’s second Christmas Day arrival and will be a younger brother for nine-year-old Myley, seven-year-old Madeline and five-year-old Daisy.
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Kim and Donald Dallas welcomed their very own bundle of Christmas joy soon after 4am with the birth of their son.
The baby boy, who has not yet been named, was born at 4.10am at the NHS Lothian birthing centre and weighed in at 9lb 2oz.
At exactly the same time, staff at Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert delivered a baby girl for Karlijn Kuipers and her partner Alasdair Fowlie. The couple are also still deciding on a name for their daughter.
The Christmas Day arrivals could be the first of a lockdown baby boom after health visitors said they were braced for a surge in births nine months after the Covid pandemic saw the country ordered to stay at home.
Earlier this month, Victoria Creanor, a health visitor for NHS Forth Valley in Alloa, told the Times they were beginning to receive an increase in calls from mothers-to-be.
She said: “We are all anticipating and bracing ourselves. It will start getting very busy. I know that there are some mums who have conceived again perhaps sooner than expected.
“People have been quite open about saying, ‘We will have a lockdown baby’. I am absolutely anticipating that next year is going to be very busy. That is something to celebrate.”
Meanwhile, in Portobello, dozens of wild swimmers braved icy temperatures for a morning plunge in the Forth.
The festive tradition takes place on Christmas morning every year in the Edinburgh coastal suburb.
Hardy swimmers, some wearing antlers and Santa hats, dashed into the sea to splash around despite air temperatures being 2°C.
Even a dog joined in with the fun after chasing its owner into the water.
The festivities came as Scottish armed forces personnel on duty around the globe sent Christmas messages home to their loved ones. In the run-up to Christmas, sailors from HMS Neptune and Royal Marines from 43 Commando also delivered Christmas trees to local communities around HM Naval Base Clyde.
This year, about 6,400 UK sailors, Marines, soldiers, airmen and airwomen are deployed on operations, including in Scotland.
In Europe, about 100 soldiers from 4 Scots and 4 Rifles will be in Ukraine over the festive period, providing training to Ukrainian forces.
Elsewhere, soldiers from 2 Scots who are usually based in Penicuik, Midlothian, are currently deployed as part of the Nato training mentoring mission in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Regi Miller, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, which is currently based in Kabul, Afghanistan, wished those at home “a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. Commodore James Perks CBE, of the Submarine Service, said:
“2020 has been a year like no other in recent times and I am immensely proud of the way that the Submarine Service has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Both service and civilian staff as well as our families and loved ones have all risen to the challenges that this year has brought.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he was “incredibly proud of the contribution that our brave servicemen and servicewomen from across Scotland have made this year”.
He added: “I particularly commend them for their efforts here in Scotland through the pandemic, as well as the dedication and sacrifices many of them will be making at this time of year, away from loved ones, in order to keep us all safe. I wish them a very happy Christmas and New Year.”
There are some mums who have conceived again, perhaps sooner than expected