A MOTHER from Whiddon Down was overjoyed after giving birth to a little girl at Okehampton Hospital on Christmas Day — the same day as she celebrated her own birthday.

Samantha and Michael Slocombe were delighted to welcome their baby daughter, named Demi, into the world on Christmas morning.

The now mother-of-three went into labour at 3.10am whilst her two daughters, aged five and three, were tucked up in bed awaiting a visit from Father Christmas.

After giving birth to the healthy 8lb 3oz baby, Samantha was back home by 10am.

Remarkably, Samantha gave birth to her third daughter on the same day she celebrated her 26th birthday.

Samantha is looking forward to some precious mother and daughter time as the New Year kicks off.

Samantha said: ‘I still find it so hard to believe that me and my daughter are both Christmas day babies! What are the odds? She is absolutely perfect and the best birthday present I will ever recieve!

‘It still feels so surreal, I can’t believe it all happened Christmas morning and we were all home in time to eat our Christmas dinner. I don’t think we could have planned it any better really!

‘My mum and sister stayed overnight to look after the girls and they woke up to welcome home their baby sister, they were so happy. She truly is the best gift.

‘We had our first baby in Exeter and we didn’t like it, so we had our second in Okehampton and loved it. We knew we would go back there.

‘The care at Okehampton Hospital is outstanding. The midwives are friendly and they made us feel so welcome — even after dragging them out of bed on Christmas morning. I was allowed to labour with little intervention and the care and support we are still recieving from the midwives is amazing.’

Pictured right are Samantha and Michael with baby Demi and midwife Odette Parsons.

Picture by James Bird