Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary has been kept very busy with bundle of joy delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Four very special gifts were born to overjoyed families across the region on Christmas Day at the Dumfries hospital’s maternity unit.
Little Quinn was the first baby born December 25, making her arrival into the world at 6.11am.
Proud mum Elizabeth Campbell, 32, and dad Andrew McDougall, 29, said their first child was the “perfect present”.
Quinn, who weighed in at just 6lb 9oz, was more than a week late.
Elizabeth, from Dumfries, said: “She’d been due on December 17 but waited until Christmas. She was the perfect present.”
Cheryl Campbell, 22, was looking forward to spending Christmas Day in Edinburgh with partner Owen Kerr’s family. But when her waters broke on Christmas Eve, the couple knew they’d be heading to hospital instead.
Little Cody was eventually born by C-section at 4pm weighing 8lb 7.5oz.
Delighted dad Owen, 24, said: “He wasn’t due until January 3. He was back to back and it was really stressful seeing Cheryl having to go through so much but we’re absolutely besotted by him.
“Cody is our first baby and it’s really special that he was born on December 25. He’s our wee Christmas miracle.”
Cheryl and Cody were back home in Ecclefechan on Boxing Day and Owen added: “He’s been doing a lot of sleeping and Cheryl’s up walking around as if nothing happened. They’re both amazing.”
Dad Fergus Halliday from Lochmaben was working a nightshift as a critical care nurse at the hospital when wife Leanne, 30, phoned him to say she was in labour.
The couple’s oldest son Cillian, 16 months, spent Christmas Day with his granny and grandpa while his new baby brother was being born.
Beautiful little Harris Oliver arrived at 4.20pm weighing 7lb 14oz.
District nurse Leanne said: “Harris wasn’t due until December 30 and I never thought he’d be born on Christmas Day but it’s really special.
“We’d been expecting to have a nice quiet day. Cillian opened his presents on Friday once we were all back home. He was with his grandparents in Dumfries on Christmas Day.
“Fergus was due to finish his nightshift at 8am on Christmas Day so with a new baby at home, he’s still trying to catch up with his sleep.”
Kirsten Clark now has a handful of gorgeous kids after child number five was born on Christmas Day.
Weighing 8lb 4oz, Oakley McWhirter arrived at 5.31pm and both mum and her new bundle of joy are doing well.
Full-time mum, Kirsten, from Dumfries, said: “He’s an absolute dream baby. He’s great. He rarely cries – he’s just chill.
“December 25 was my due date but I’ve gone earlier and later with my other children so I wasn’t sure if he would be a Christmas Day baby.
“He’s certainly the best Christmas present I’ve ever had. We are delighted to have him in our family.”
Her oldest sons are eight-year-old Ruraidh and Brodie, aged six, whom she has home at weekends. And with her partner, Ian McWhirter, they also have three-year-old daughter, Freya, and a son, Sunny, aged one. He was born on December 1 last year, weighing 10lb 8oz.
Kirsten, who chose the name Oakley because it sounds “strong and solid”, said: “It’ll be a lot of hard work with them all being under nine – but worth it. The staff on the maternity unit have been amazing and we can’t thank them enough.”
Then, the new year got off to the best possible start for Zara Stanger and Chris Irving.
Their first child, beautiful little boy Monty, was the only baby to be born at Dumfries Infirmary on January 1.
Monty arrived on his due date, making his appearance at 12.07pm weighing 7lb one ounce.
Proud mum Zara, 31, and dad Chris, 44, are delighted with their new arrival and were looking forward to taking him home to Dunscore.
Zara said: “He’s just perfect and everyone loves him so much.
“The midwives at the hospital were amazing and kept coming in for a cuddle with Monty because he’s so sweet.
“It’s very special that he was born on New Year’s Day and 2025 got off to the perfect start for us.”