A ‘MIRACLE’ baby was one of the first to arrive at Basingstoke hospital in 2014.

Christina and Alasdair MacDonald, from Beggarwood, were given the devastating news at the beginning of 2012 that they were unable to conceive naturally, and they then went through two unsuccessful rounds of IVF treatment.

They had given up hope of ever having their own child, and were advised to consider adopting.

Christina said: “It was horrendous.”

But, miraculously, 39-year-old Christina fell pregnant naturally during a holiday in St Lucia with Alasdair, a 29-year-old electrical engineer for Foster Wheeler, in Reading.

Christina, head of science at Eagle House School, in Sandhurst, said: “The pregnancy was all fine but I was on tenterhooks the whole way.”

Their baby was due on Monday, December 23, but Christina did not begin contractions until the following week, and was brought into hospital at 10.30am on Monday, December 30.

The delighted couple welcomed Ethan into the world on New Year’s Day following a 55-hour labour.

Weighing 7lb 13oz, Ethan was eventually delivered by emergency Caesarean section at Basingstoke hospital, arriving at 10.12am.

Christina said: “He’s such a miracle and so amazing.”

Also welcomed into the world at Basingstoke hospital on New Year’s Day was Evelyn Daiz Joseph, who was born at 1.50pm, weighing 6lb 10oz.

New parents Elwin Joseph, 29, and Teena James, 27, arrived at the hospital, in Aldermaston Road, at 7.30am on Tuesday, December 31.

Teena, of Millard Close, Oakridge, Basingstoke, who works for St Thomas’ Care Home, in South View, gave birth to her daughter naturally, 10 days before she was due.

She said: “It’s so lovely – I’m so happy.”

Ten babies were born in total on January 1, including twins, who had a special visit from the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Dan Putty.

Mum Zuzana Atkinson gave birth to her son, who is yet to be named, at 3.55am, weighing 6lb 6oz, followed by daughter, Emilee, at 5.59am, weighing 6lb 2oz.

The 36-year-old, from Lindford, near Bordon, who also has a three-year-old daughter Sophie, said: “We came in on the 30th but they were extremely busy. I was supposed to be induced but they left us until the 31st because they had lots of emergencies.

“It all started at about 8pm when they broke my waters. Two hours later the contractions started. They were due on January 13 but because they were twins they normally induce a bit earlier. I was hoping they would be born on the 30th! But I didn’t think about the date at the time.”

Zuzana’s husband, Paul, a security man for the Ministry of Defence, turned 51 the day after his new born babies arrived.

Zuzana, a carer, said: “They were nearly a birthday present!”