A 21-YEAR-OLD woman gave birth on Christmas Day despite not knowing she was pregnant.
Leanne Carter felt a bit bloated just before Christmas, but was still having her periods and did not have any other symptoms.
She woke up at 2.30am on Christmas Day with what she thought were severe stomach cramps.
Her mum took her to the QMC, where staff realised what was happening and rushed Leanne into the delivery room.
A short time later she gave birth to her son Joseph, who weighed just 4lb 12oz.
Speaking to the Post from her hospital bed, Leanne, a first-time mum, said: "It was a big surprise – I didn't know anything about it, I just became bloated in the last four weeks.
"I always watched TV shows and thought 'how could you not know?'
"It's still sinking in really, I'm nearly there. It didn't sink in at all on Christmas Day."
Leanne said she thought her stomach cramps were severe period pains.
They got worse and her mum Melanie suggested they go to the Queen's Medical Centre to find out what was wrong.
She said: "When I was there I went to the toilet and just felt the need to push.
"My mum had to go and get the staff and they asked if I was pregnant.
"They wheeled me in and the first I heard of it was when they gave me the gas and air as I was pushing."
"I was shocked, then scared and worried and I didn't know if he was OK, but then I was happy.
"I didn't intend on having children for a long while yet but I'm happy and I'm dead excited."
The 21-year-old had recently started working at a shop in Ilkeston and said she had carried on normal life throughout her pregnancy.
She said: "I did a lot of heavy lifting – he's had it tough, but he's fine. I just carried on life as normal, did my day to day stuff."
Leanne, of Northgate Street, Ilkeston, said she would be moving with her son to live with her mum and grandparents until finding a house to share with her boyfriend, Scott Curwood and son.
She said: "They're all very happy and dead excited. I told Scott straight away, he was shocked, but he's more than happy."
Doctors think Joseph was born around two weeks early and has suffered no lasting effects from his surprise entry into the world.
She said: "Joseph is definitely the most surprising, but the best, Christmas present ever.
"He's very quiet and quite sleepy – my mum says he's the spitting image of me.
"He's going to be tall, he's got massive feet and tiny little skinny legs."
Leanne and Scott had been planning to spend Christmas with their respective families, opening presents and having a festive dinner.
She said: "I don't like hospitals as it is and Christmas is my favourite time of year. It wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend my Christmas."
Joseph was born at 8am on Christmas Day.
Alison Atkinson, head of maternity at the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: "I'm delighted that Leanne and her baby are both well and happy.
"It's rare for a woman to give birth without knowing she's pregnant – but I'm pleased that it was a happy surprise.
"It was also a lovely surprise for our team in the Emergency Department on Christmas morning.
"They were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful Christmas story – and have even clubbed together to buy a gift for the baby. We wish Leanne and her baby all the best."
