Mum welcomes baby son on her Christmas Day birthday

A woman from Strood spent her Christmas Day birthday bringing newborn son Alfie into the world, exactly 37 years after she was born.

Chloe gave birth to Alfie at Medway Maritime Hospital at 08:07 GMT on 25 December, 37 years, two hours and two minutes after she was born at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

Alfie's arrival came after Chloe lost a baby boy, Thomas, just before Christmas 2023 when she was 16 weeks pregnant.

Chloe says Alfie, who was due to arrive on 22 December, is the "best birthday and Christmas present" she could have ever wished for.

"Having Alfie share my birthday is an incredibly special thing, I mean what are the odds of us having the same birthday, let alone both of us being born on Christmas Day?" she said.

"My family have been lovingly cursing me though for having him on Christmas Day because it's going to be more expensive for them now."

Falling pregnant just a few months after losing Thomas came as a bit of a shock initially, she said, but the family are all completely overjoyed with the "wonderful" Alfie.

Not to be deterred, nine hours after Alfie entered the world, both mum and baby - together with her partner and Alfie's older brother Archie - were at Chloe's parents' house eating Christmas dinner.

"The food was lovely but everyone was so exhausted and all over the place because of the day's events that I don't think anyone really enjoyed eating it unfortunately," she said.

Since she was born, Chloe's parents have tried to separate her birthday and Christmas.

She is going to try to do the same, by celebrating Alfie's birthday on Christmas Day alongside doing "something that is especially for him".

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.