A Tayside lockdown mum is settling into life with her newborn after her stomach cramps proved to be the arrival of the son she didn’t know she was expecting.
Daisy Young has spoken of her shock at giving birth to 6lb 13oz Elijah John in Ninewells Hospital.
Her mum Maggy had to get the all clear from doctors so she could break Covid-19 movement restrictions and rush north from her home in County Durham to meet the new arrival, arriving in Dundee at 2am.
Now recovering from the shock, as well as the birth, Daisy has shared her delight at the unexpected turn of events and her heartfelt gratitude for medics and friends in her adopted home.
The 21-year-old former student gave birth just a few hours after a pal dropped her off at the city’s A&E department.
Daisy, who moved to Dundee to study history three years ago, said: “I had stomach cramps the day before but thought nothing of it.
“They got worse so one of my housemates dropped me off at A&E, but couldn’t come in because of the coronavirus restrictions.”
When doctors told Daisy she might be pregnant she thought it was impossible because she had been using contraception and was still having her periods.
“I had put a little bit of weight on but I just thought that’s because I had started a job at McDonalds,” she confessed.
However, a scan revealed she was 37 weeks pregnant and in labour and a little over four hours after she arrived at Ninewells, Daisy gave birth to Elijah John at 6.48pm on June 9.
“I held him, I wasn’t even crying, I was just too shocked,” she said.
Grandmother Maggy had been gardening at the family pub in Crook when she got a text from her daughter saying she was in hospital.
“My first thought was she had been in a car accident,” said Maggy, who had last seen her daughter shortly before lockdown.
“I called and she just said ‘I’ve had a baby’. I couldn’t believe it.
“I turned to my husband Graham and just said ‘hello granddad’. His face was a picture.”
Baby Elijah and grandad Graham.The family are all now together in England, but Daisy and her mum said the care of the Ninewells team had been exceptional.
Daisy added: “The hospital were absolutely fantastic and I couldn’t have had better flatmates.
“After he arrived, I sent them a text saying ‘I may or may not have just had a baby’. I then sent them some photos and they were completely shocked,” she said.
“He is a really chilled out baby which has made it easier for all of us after such a shock.
“I have loved my time in Dundee but it’s all just sinking in now so whether I go back there will depend on how things work out.”
Although rare for a woman not to know she is a pregnant, there are around 300 so-called ‘cryptic births’ in the UK every year.
