Bathgate couple welcome Christmas baby

Dec 29 2011 by Allan Valente, West Lothian Courier

A BATHGATE couple were given the greatest gift of all over the festive period this year after their baby boy was born on Christmas Day.

Little Jacksen Brown was the first West Lothian baby born on December 25 at 2.22am at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Proud parents Derek (28) and Heather Brown (27) welcomed the newborn more than 28 hours after mum went into labour on December 23.

Heather, who works as a tour guide at Scotch Whisky in Edinburgh, was taken in for an emergency c-section after Jacksen was 10 days overdue. He weighed in at 9lbs 10oz.

And, as family and friends gathered round to welcome the new arrival, mum Heather told the Courier that her baby boy has carried on a family tradition by being born on the special day.

She said: “He shares a birthday with his uncle Fraser. My brother was born on Christmas Day as well so we gave Jacksen an extra middle name after him.

“Fraser is 29 and he has said it’s great because he never had to go to school on his birthday. He’s been saying he knows how Jacksen will be feeling.

“Jacksen was due on December 15. I had actually gone to bed on December 23 and I went into labour at 11pm. It went on for 28 and a half hours, so it went on for a lot longer than I was expecting.

“I was so big by the end because he was late, I could barely walk.

“He is the first grandchild for both of our families as well so it is extra special.”

The couple were getting ready to take the newborn home after spending Christmas at St John’s.

Heather added: “I was kind of in a world of my own on Christmas Day but still had all the family and friends round. I got up on Boxing Day, though.”

Father Derek, who works as a maintenance engineer for Shin-etsu in Livingston, said Jacksen won’t have to worry about missing out on any presents as he grows up because of his special birthday.

He said: “It’ll be great for him when he’s older.

“I think we’ll give him a half birthday in the summer so he’s got another day.”

And, as usual, hospital staff took the chance to lavish the new Christmas baby with plenty of presents.

Heather added: “Derek and I are both getting on great with him, he’s just hungry constantly.

“We’ve had loads of visitors, all of our family and friends have been round.

“All the midwives have fallen in love with Jacksen and have spoiled him rotten. They have bought him lots of gifts.

“He has had so much attention and they have given him loads of presents like toys and clothes. Matalan also gave us a teddy for having the first Christmas baby here.

“I think he was the only one born in the hospital on Christmas Day. There were some babies born on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, though.

“It was so special anyway but it does add to it that he was born on Christmas Day.”