Nurse gives birth to Rotherham's first baby of 2019

Assema Suleman and husband Arshad Asghar saw in 2019 in Rotherham Hospital where, at 7.15am on New Year’s Day, they welcomed their second child into the world.

Assema (28), a paediatric nurse at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and Arshad (30), who works in security, are yet to choose a name for the baby boy, but plan to settle on one in the next few days.

“We celebrated the new year with the midwife,” said Assema. “It was amazing.

“The midwife was in the antenatal daycare unit and she had some juice and some Shloer and all the parents were welcome to attend.

“We had the TV on with the fireworks and I could see some fireworks through the window and we were sat there with all the families.

“There were lots of babies there who had been born the year before with the hospital staff, parents and families.”

Assema went into labour at around 2am and baby was born at 7.15am, weighing 6lb 1oz.

He was also welcomed into the world by his brother, Zaydan, who will turn two on January 17.

Assema said: “It’s absolutely amazing to have the first baby of the year in Rotherham. We are overwhelmed.

“He was due on January 4 but to be fair it came as a complete surprise, we are completely shocked, we were not expecting a new year baby.”

Assema said it had been the perfect way to start the new year.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said.

“It’s early days but we are settling in well and baby is getting into Zaydan’s routine.

“The care at Rotherham Hospital was absolutely amazing. The midwife, the obstetricians, the doctors were all fantastic.”

The second baby to be born in Rotherham Hospital was Jude Steventon (pictured below).

Mother Lauren Thorpe and father Ryan Steventon welcomed their 7lb 12oz son into the world at 11.04am.