First Hackney babies of 2012 arrive at Homerton Hospital

It was a ‘Nappy’ New Year for proud mums and dads at Homerton Hospital on Sunday (Jan 1) as the first Hackney babies of 2012 were born.

The new arrivals had a bawl as relatives and hospital staff made a fuss of them as they entered the world during the first dawn of the New Year.

Parents Nazish and Rahim Kaba celebrated when their baby daughter made a grand entrance at 1.17am.

But despite her early arrival, she wasn’t the first child born at the hospital’s maternity unit in Homerton Row - that honour fell to 8lb ‘Baby Freund’, who just pipped her to the post by arriving at 12.35am.

Thrilled mum Mishket Freund, of Manor Road, Stoke Newington, said: “She hasn’t got a name yet because we’re Jewish so we’re waiting until a special naming ceremony at the synagogue on Saturday to do that.

“It was a very long labour - it took about a day and a half. But she’s my first child and I’m so happy to have her.”

Another new mum, Maebh Mac Giolla-Ri, welcomed her baby girl at 7.37am on New Year’s Day.