Chocolate and flowers are the traditional Valentine’s Day presents, but some families received an extra special gift this year.
Rebecca Close and her partner William spent the most romantic day of the year in the Ulster Hospital’s Maternity Unit where they celebrated the birth of their daughter.
Baby Sloane, who was born at 7.37am on Friday, February 14 and weighed in at 6lbs 2ozs, was so eager to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day that she arrived a little early.
“She was a nice little surprise as she was not due for another two weeks,” proud mum Rebecca said.
“It’s a nice little day to have and means we won’t have to buy a present ever again.”
Hayley and Andy Taylor with their baby daughter
The Castlereagh couple hailed the new addition as the best Valentine’s surprise they could have asked for.
“We have 100% the greatest gift. Sloane is our little forever Valentine,” they said.
Newtownards couple Hayley and Andy Taylor were also celebrating the slightly premature birth of their daughter who arrived at 5.03am weighing a healthy 7lbs 8ozs, despite being two days early.
“We were just saying how glad we are that she was born on Valentine’s Day,” Hayley said. “Her big sister, our two-year-old daughter Poppy, will be meeting her later.”
Read more
Labour ward manager Victoria Dawson said that while every day in her line of work is meaningful, there is no denying that Valentine’s Day births are extra special. “Every baby delivered is always special, but on a day like Valentine’s Day there is always something a little bit more magical,” she said.
“We want to say a huge congratulations, from all the staff in the Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit to all our new mums and dads on Valentine’s Day — it truly is love at first sight!”
The Ulster Hospital’s Neonatal Unit has dedicated staff who have handcrafted beautifully unique cards for every baby and family on the maternity ward.
Mums Nikita and Laura Johnston
Each one is thoughtfully made to capture a permanent record of the tiny little footprints and designed to uplift and brighten the day of doting parents and extended family members.
Nikita Johnston from Lisburn and her partner Laura were among the lucky mums to have received a card after Nikita gave birth to twin girls on Monday at 32 weeks — just in time for Annie and Eliza to enjoy their first Valentine’s Day.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better present,” Nikita said. “We both knew we were having twin girls.
“They are the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts. We asked each other earlier ‘what are we getting each other for Valentine’s Day?’
“And we said we have the perfect little gifts we could ever ask for.
“We both thought the cards were a very thoughtful idea from the lovely staff in the unit.”
The neonatal team hopes the personalised cards provide an additional sense of connection for parents.
Advanced neonatal nurse practitioner Colm Darby said: “Our staff here in the unit are incredible, they make all these special moments really important for the babies and parents here.
“Valentine’s Day is an important day of love for the whole family.”