We look back on a baker's dozen of babies welcomed into the world at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Christmas Day 2018

Nicole Ebanks, from Worcester, had the perfect late birthday present, giving birth to daughter Aurora at 00.19 – the first born on the big day at the hospital – and the 22-year-old’s second after Aaliyah, three.

“It was a surprise, just after my birthday on Christmas Eve,” she said, with little Aurora due on December 30. “Aaliyah is so happy to finally be a big sister.”

Nicole was at home celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend when her waters broke on Christmas Eve.

“I was bleeding loads so came in an ambulance,” she added.

Amy Corfield and Warren Rutherford, both 25 and from Worcester, welcomed baby Cassidy at 9.58am – almost three weeks prior to the due date on January 14.

“It was unexpected,” said Amy. “We had just been getting things ready for Christmas at home.

“It was about 1am, we were in bed and I got up to go to the toilet and shouted: ‘I think my waters have broken!’ He was like: ‘No they haven’t, you’re lying, this is a joke.’”

Amy explained: “I’m quite a joker, so it’s believable for me to make it up – but I was on the floor, and I’m saying: ‘I’m being serious! Ring the hospital!’

“We got here about 2am, I had an epidural about three, went to sleep, woke up about eight o’clock, had an exam and they told me she’ll be born within two hours. They came back at half past nine, told me to start pushing and she was here at 9.58.”

The new mum said she and Warren had been planning to have a quiet Christmas with just the two of them.

“I think pigs and blankets are on the menu today, for sure,” she added, when speaking to the Worcester News on Boxing Day.

Amanda Henry, 34, and Nathan Smith, 30, from Worcester, hadn’t decided on a name for their son on Boxing Day.

“My chap’s coming in soon, so today we’ll have a good chat,” said Amanda.

“It’s been a bit of a surprise, I thought all along I was having a boy but my chap kept saying: ‘don’t say that, because you just don’t know!’

“We have got about five boys names, it’s just making the decision.

“My chap seems to go for quite modern ones and I quite like old fashioned ones. It’s trying to come to an agreement.”

The couple’s baby was four-and-a-half weeks early when he arrived at 4.16pm, with Amanda’s waters having broken at 7.50am on Tuesday.

Worcester couple Megan Minnis, 18, and David Warman, 20, welcomed their first-born Carter-James at 3.59am – and had planned to spend Christmas Day with family.

The original due date was January 18 and Megan said: “It’s a shock but a nice surprise.”

Alex and Ray Waterfield, from Redditch, welcomed their first born, baby Rosalie at 2.13am – who arrived five days off her due date.

Alex said: “It wasn’t the due date, but it was a nice surprise. It was like a present from Santa.”

Other mums welcoming babies included Laura Evans, from Stourport, and Hayley Pearce, from Pershore.

Judy Lane, midwife and Meadow Birth Centre manager, said: “It’s been quite busy, not as manic as last year, we were very busy last year, this year’s not been as busy, but we’ve still had a productive time. It never stops completely.”