Henry Jude Curtis was born at 4.39pm on New Year’s Day – two days earlier than expected
Henry Jude is the first baby for Ben Watson and Kaitlyn Curtis(Image: Ben Watson)
The New Year started in joyous style for Great Ayton couple Ben Watson and Kaitlyn Curtis as they welcomed their baby into the world. Henry Jude arrived at 4.39pm on New Year’s Day at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, weighing 6lb 15oz.
Proud dad Ben told Teesside Live their due date was January 3 but Kaitlyn started having contractions on New Year’s Eve and their bundle of joy was safely delivered the following day. Mum and baby are doing “absolutely perfectly”, he said.
Henry is the first baby for Ben, 22, a truck fitter, and nail technician Kaitlyn, also 22. The couple are expecting to take him home on Sunday, January 4.
“She started her contractions on New Year’s Eve and we went into hospital at about 11am the next day,” said Ben. “It was lovely to have him on New Year’s Day and the date is easier to remember too!
“He was estimated for the third and my mum’s birthday is the second so we’ve got those close-up birthdays.”
The couple are hoping to take him home to Great Ayton today(Image: Ben Watson)Mum and baby are both doing well(Image: Ben Watson)
Henry was among the lovely babies born on Teesside on New Year’s Day. Little Connie was born at the University Hospital of North Tees, weighing 7lb 4. Connie arrived at 7.29am on January 1.
Mum Rebecca D’Ambrosio-Johnston, and her husband Tom Johnston, say that Connie “completes” their family. Connie has two teenage siblings – Lila, 16, and Marlie, 14, who waited at their home in the Fairfield area of the town, for Connie to arrive.
Rebecca and Tom with baby ConnieBaby Connie
At James Cook University Hospital, Jesse was born hours earlier, at 4.22am, weighing 6lb 5. His parents say Jesse is “the best New Year’s gift we could have asked for”.
Jesse is Victor and Chizitere Mbamara’s first child. The couple were moved into the labour room just after the midnight countdown, and Victor said Jesse arrived after “four intense hours”.
Baby Jesse
The software developer dad says his newborn is a “wonderful mix of both of us – he has his mum’s cute features and my hairy genes!”. The couple plan to spend the next few days bonding with little Jesse at home in central Middlesbrough.
Huge congratulations to all families celebrating the birth of their little ones and thank you for sharing your news.
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