There was a wonderful happy New Year welcome for Harper Rose Wilde when she took the honour of becoming the first baby to be born at Tameside Maternity Unit of 2023.

Baby Harper arrived at 10.58am, weighing exactly 5lbs, and was the first baby to arrive in the borough on New Year’s Day.

Parents Paul, 32, and Danielle, 31, from Newton in Hyde, said they were surprised but delighted at the news.

Danielle had gone into hospital early on New Year’s Day with Harper delivered just a few hours later by caesarean section. 

The couple certainly weren’t anticipating Harper would arrive on New Year’s Day, but were delighted when the maternity team gifted baby Harper a special top reading ‘1st Baby Girl of 2023 Born at Tameside’ plus a welcome badge.

The couple said they would like to thank all of the team at the maternity unit - Danielle describing them as ‘fantastic’ - especially considering the pressures the NHS is presently under, and they had extra special thanks to midwife Hannah.

Harper is the couple’s second daughter and a welcome sister for two-year-old Alaya.

Mum and baby are doing well, having been allowed home on Monday.

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