Mum gives birth to first baby of 2017 at City Hospital

3rd Jan 2017

Meet little Ellina Kumari – Britain’s first baby of 2017 who was born at just one minute past midnight. She came into the world at City Hospital weighing a healthy 6lbs 8oz following a five hour labour.

Mum Bharti Devi, 35, of Handsworth, said she had predicted Ellina would be born on New Year’s Day.“I thought I would have her on January 1,” said the beaming mum-of-two.

“She was due on December 26, and when she hadn’t made an appearance by then I said to my husband I think she’s going to come on New Year’s Day. Obviously we hadn’t made any plans to celebrate the new year because we didn’t know what was going to happen with Ellina.”

Bharti went to City Hospital, with her husband Ashwani Kumar, 26, on New Year’s Eve and was induced at 7pm. Five hours later she gave birth to Ellina.

Watch mum Bharti speak about her bundle of joy:

Bharti, who is also mum to Arriv, aged two, added: “I feel she is a very lucky baby and it is really exciting to think she is the first baby in Britain to be born in 2017. I am so proud of her and she is beautiful. It is definitely something special to tell her when she is grown up.

“Arriv is so excited and was desperate to hold her when he first came to visit.
“He said ‘mumma give her to me’. He is very loving with her and has been giving her lots of kisses.”

Midwife Zulekha Samsodien who has been taking care of Bharti and Ellina said: “Everything went fine and mum and baby are both doing very well. They are staying in for observations but hopefully they will be able to go home soon. It is special that she is the first baby of 2017 anywhere in the country, it is something to be proud of.”

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