Meet the babies who were first to be born in Sunderland this decade

Sunderland Royal Hospital welcomed four New Year’s Day babies on it’s Maternity ward on Wednesday, January 1.

The first baby was Rose McCormick, at 9.18am, weighing 7lb 10oz. Parents Laura and Andrew McCormick said they ‘can’t believe she was the first to be born’ and are delighted with the arrival of their first daughter.

Little Rose will now return to her home in Houghton-le-Spring with her parents and big brother Max, two.

Laura said: “She was born within three hours of the first contraction, it was a very quick birth.

“She was actually born inside the membrane as my waters didn’t break, they tell me that’s quite rare.”

Laura knew she would be having her baby on New Year’s Day as she was originally booked in to have an induced labor but baby Rose decided to come all on her own.

Laura added: “I can’t believe she was the first to be born on New Year’s Day at 9.18am, she just came so quickly and Max is really excited to be a big brother.”

Second baby, Floyd McDermott was bord at 11.47am, weighing 4lb and 14oz to parents Ashleigh, 27 and Adam 29. Baby Floyd is named after Floyd Mayweather a former professional boxer.

Father Adam said: “We’re both big boxing fans and we really like Floyd Mayweather.”

Baby Floyd was born four weeks early, and will remain in the hospital under observation for ‘a little while’. But both parents are absolutely overjoyed with the arrival of their first child.

Adam added: “We’re really tired but on cloud nine.

“We just want to take him home.”

Baby number three was little Lennon Michael Atherton, born at 12.49pm weighing 6lb 5oz.

Lennon is the second child to be born to mother Neketa Atherton, 22 who also has a daughter, Evie-Leigh Braines, three, who is ‘over the moon’ to be a big sister. Little Lennon will return home with mother, sister and father to Pallion, and Neketa has reported that she and the baby are doing well.

Baby four, described as a New Year’s Day miracle by her parents Claire and Martin Curry is Elsie Mae Curry, born at 3.04pm weighing 8lb 2oz.

Claire, a teacher, and Martin, a bricklayer, have been trying to have a baby for more than six years are overjoyed with the arrival of little Elsie.

Martin said: “This is massive for us, we’ve been trying for six years.

“I'm looking forward to being a dad and experiencing new things with Elsie.

“I want to say thank you to Claire for all her hard work and for bringing Elsie into the world.”