Bella was ‘perfect Christmas gift’

Little Bella was born at 9.15pm on Christmas Day at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, weighing 6lbs and 3oz.

And even though mum had to replace the traditional roast dinner with a turkey and cranberry sauce baguette, she’s got no complaints at all about Bella’s sense of timing.

“She’s the best Christmas present we could have asked for,” said Nichola, 35, who initially went to the L&D on Christmas Eve with her husband Martin, 33, when her waters broke.

But the Mentmore Crescent couple were sent home again because Nichola’s contractions were too far apart.

Their bundle of joy was given the middle name Frenchie, as Nichola’s maiden name was French. “People have always known me as Frenchie, so we thought it would make a nice middle name for Bella,” she said.

Mum and baby stayed in hospital for four days, and Nichola admits to getting her hands on her Christmas presents as soon as she got home.

And Bella has given the couple her very own gift – being a very contented baby who only wakes up once a night.