Sarah Gregory and Chris Lacey had been expecting their first child on January 9 and had planned a relaxing Christmas break with plenty of time to prepare for their new arrival.
However, it seems Alfie Gregory Lacey just couldn’t wait for Santa.
Miss Gregory, who works
at GlaxoSmithKline, began her maternity leave on Monday, December 12, giving her and Mr Lacey four weeks to get everything sorted for their baby.
Never did they anticipate that the beginning of parenthood was only hours away.
Having felt unwell during the day with a few pains, Miss Gregory visited the doctors and then the pregnancy assessment ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital for further tests and advice.
She was told she had a water infection, that the pain was likely to be Braxton Hicks and that she definitely wasn’t going into labour. She returned home and was asked to revisit the hospital the next day for a scan.
But the pains continued and the 30-year-old mum-to-be settled on the sofa in the front room later that night.
She told Mr Lacey to get some sleep upstairs because she knew she was going to have an uncomfortable night.
Miss Gregory’s pain got worse and before she had time to do anything or even let Mr Lacey know upstairs, baby Alfie was on his way.
Weighing a healthy 6lb 2oz, Miss Gregory delivered him all on her own on the sofa at 3.11am on Tuesday, December 13 – three hours into her first day of maternity leave.
She said: “It was probably less than five minutes. I didn’t even have time to think about it. It just happened that quickly.”
Mr Lacey, who works at S&A builders merchant in the town, was woken by the sound of a crying baby.
The 36-year-old said: “At first I thought Sarah was watching something on TV. I never expected coming downstairs to a baby.”
After giving birth, Miss Gregory made a call to 999 and was holding their newborn son while speaking to the operator when Mr Lacey walked into the room.
Miss Gregory said: “I had managed to wrap him up in a blanket. His cord had been wrapped round him but he was crying so I knew he was okay. I was due to do my birthing plan the day after he was born so I had no idea what to expect. I had also made plans for that week to get things ready.”
Paramedics arrived within seven minutes of the call but Miss Gregory had done everything she needed to do apart from cut the cord which Mr Lacey had the honour of doing.
At about 4am, mother and baby were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital to be checked over.
Miss Gregory said: “We weren’t bothering about Christmas. We were just going to get each other little bits when we wanted something but now we have got Alfie.
“All of our Christmases and birthdays have come at once. We are both shocked and can’t believe he is here already. He is the best Christmas present ever.”
Sarah’s mum, Jackie Lowes, said: “Luckily everything went well. Sarah cracked on and did it all on her own. I’m so proud of her. Alfie is beautiful.”
Following a four-night stay in hospital, the family returned to their home in Startforth on Saturday. Mr Lacey said: “Plans have changed slightly for Christmas but we are looking forward to it.”
Miss Gregory added: “He’s fit and healthy and settling in really well. We’ll have to tell Santa there’s an extra little one now.”
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