ONE Carlisle couple certainly started 2021 on a high as they welcomed their first child on New Year’s Day.

This tiny bundle of joy arrived by emergency caesarean section at 9.30am yesterday at 33 weeks, weighing just 4lb 4.5oz.

His beaming parents Rosie Nuttall and Simon Kerr, of Upperby, were caught slightly off guard on New Year’s Eve when Rosie’s waters broke and are yet to give him a name.

Their little boy, who was due on February 17, was breach and was delivered by c-section at The Cumberland Infirmary.

Rosie’s pregnancy wasn’t plain sailing either as she and Simon both contracted Covid-19 in November. Thankfully they weren’t seriously ill and their baby wasn’t affected.

“I’m really happy and just really relieved that he’s okay and he’s doing really well,” said Rosie 34.

“In the current circumstances with Covid, it’s been a bit stressful because Simon couldn’t be with me for a lot of the time but he was there at the end and that was the most important part.

“Everyone at the hospital has been really amazing. Every single person we have seen and dealt with has been amazing making us feel like it’s all alright and we’ve been checked on and reassured about everything.

“I would have felt a lot different if they weren’t as good as they were.”

Simon, 32, said: “It’s a good start [to the year] and a nice story for people to hear at this kind of time. It’s all just been a bit of a whirlwind really.

“He’s healthy, he’s happy. Everyone’s fine so it’s all good.

“We’re ecstatic and looking forward to seeing him. We’ve not really been able to see him yet.”

Rosie added: “We had a few hiccups on the way and had Covid. We were both okay and both made a really good recovery and the baby is fine as well so that’s the main thing.

“The midwives were just on the other end of the phone and they were quite reassuring.”

The couple's little boy is being cared for on the Special Care Baby Unit where he will be monitored to make sure there are no problems and they will be able to visit him.