A TADLEY mother has expressed her joy after her baby girl was born on Christmas Day - to her surprise. 

Sarah Neema Kallalghe, of Stevens Road, gave birth to her daughter Gabriella at Basingstoke hospital on Monday, December 25.

The 28-year-old insurance worker said she was surprised that her daughter, who was born weighing six pounds and 47 ounces, was born so early, as she had been expecting the bouncing bundle of joy to be born in the new year.

Basingstoke Gazette: Sarah and her newborn daughter GabriellaSarah and her newborn daughter Gabriella (Image: Sarah Neema Kallaghe)She told the Gazette: “It’s exciting, and something new. It’s been a whole experience, and I never expected it to be on Christmas Day.

“I thought it was going to be closer to New Year’s Day instead!

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“But she came on Christmas Day and we’ve been so happy.”

This is Sarah’s second child – she gave birth to her and her partner Deo Shirima’s son Gerald three years ago.

She continued: “As soon as we got back home (from the hospital) we had my mum over, my aunties, and her brother who is three – he was really excited to meet her!

“I’ve had a lot of family around and it’s just been amazing, and because it’s Christmas time it’s really felt like she’s bought everyone together in a sense, the whole family was here. So it’s been really nice and everyone was excited to meet her.

“Everyone was so happy and shocked to meet her on Christmas Day.”