Mum sets baby 'record'

New Year's Eve was memorable for the Woolvines

A 32-year-old woman in the West Midlands beat amazing odds when she gave birth to a healthy baby boy on New Year's Eve.

Nicola Woolvine had already put herself into the record books at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton at the beginning of last year with the birth of baby Dominic.

Born on 1 January, he was the first baby delivered in the hospital in 2002.

It was a total surprise

Nicola Woolvine

But just 364 days later, Nicola was in labour again, this time giving birth to 9lb William - the last baby to be delivered in the hospital in 2002.

The record book at the George Eliot Hospital shows there were 2,323 births there last year. The first name on the list is Dominic's and the last name is William's.

"It was a total surprise," Nicola told BBC News Online.

"First of all the pregnancy was not planned. I was also due on 23 December so I was really expecting a Christmas baby.

"We only found out the following day that William had been the last baby born in the hospital in 2002. We were astounded."

Place your bets

Nicola, from nearby Bulkington, was not the only one who appeared to have been left waiting for William's arrival.

"The staff were quite amused by it all," she says. "I think some of them were taking bets that I would the first to give birth in 2003 too. But William came out much quicker than his brother did."

Records aside, the birth means big changes at home for Nicola and her husband Mark.

Christmas and New Year will be expensive from now on

Nicola Woolvine

But William's arrival will also change the face of Christmas in the Woolvine house forever.

"We will have to buy Christmas presents for three children and birthday presents for two of them from now on.

"Christmas and New Year will be expensive from now on," says Nicola.