6 January 2012
Thirteen families in Surrey and southwest London celebrated the best Christmas present imaginable with the arrival of new babies born on Christmas Day 2011 at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
In addition, a further thirteen families welcomed 2012 in with their own bundles of joy on New Year's Day.
Gina Brockwell is one of the most senior midwives at the Trust. She said: "Each and every birth is a unique occasion for both the family and midwives involved, but our Christmas and New Year babies will have very special birthdays to celebrate over the coming years.
"The maternity units at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals were busy over the holiday period and it's very rewarding for all involved to play a part on such memorable occasions."
The first Christmas Day baby to be born at St Helier Hospital was Noah Flaherty, son of proud parents John and Helen from Carshalton. John said: "Noah was born in St Helier's birth centre, which was a new experience for me and my wife.
"The midwives were very reassuring and it was, overall, quite relaxing - as far as childbirth is concerned.
"The care we received was excellent and we were thrilled to have such good news to share with our friends and family on Christmas Day."
Another father celebrating over the festive period was Stuart Dare, whose partner Leeann gave birth to James, Epsom Hospital's first baby of 2012. Stuart was full of praise for the care his newly-expanded family received, saying: "Everybody at Epsom Hospital was great, they really looked after Leeann and James.
"Of course, I would have been over the moon no matter what time or day that James was born, but I have to admit that the first baby of 2012 at Epsom is a bit special.
"Strangely enough, a good friend of mine living in Sussex also became the dad of a baby boy on New Year's Day. At the time we weren't aware of each other's situation, so it came as a total surprise when I was able to almost repeat his news back down the phone."
