Scottish families welcome Christmas babies

Families in Scotland have been welcoming Christmas babies at hospitals across the country.

One couple missed out on their festive celebrations after their baby girl decided to arrive a few days early.

Maja Shearer, 27, and her partner Jason, 28, rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Christmas Eve, meaning Maja's family - who were visiting from Poland - had to host their traditional celebrations without the couple there.

Jason said: "Maja's Polish, so we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and British Christmas on Christmas Day and Maja's folks are over just now so they had to host Christmas dinner without us last night because we're here, and they'll probably get a nice Christmas dinner again today."

Asked what he was doing when Maja went into labour, Jason said: "Sleeping - it was 5.30am. She woke me up at 5.30am, it was all quick, then it was quite slow - 5.30am yesterday morning, in here at 7am then we were here the whole day."

Their baby girl Eliza could be the first Christmas baby as she made her entrance at 12.18am weighing 7lbs 8oz.

The new father also extended his gratitude to the midwifery staff at the hospital, who he said had been "absolutely amazing".

Meanwhile, Lauren Haddock and Jordan Hamill welcomed baby boy, Finley, arriving at 12.33am in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Weighing 7lb 8oz, he has become his parent's first born.

Just under 30 minutes later, baby Lexi arrived at 12.59am on Christmas morning to mum Marissa McLean, 31, and Kevin Lothain, 33, from Edinburgh.

Born at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Lexi weighed 7lb 8oz.

A short while later, Ashley Gillon and Dean Halup from Clackmannanshire welcomed their baby boy at Forth Valley Hospital at 1.24am.

Just before dawn broke on Christmas Day, Claire Gray, 35, and her partner Kyle, 36, welcomed their baby girl at St John's Hospital in Livingston shortly after 7am.

The pair from Bathgate are still deciding on a name for the little one who weighed 8lbs 7oz.