Britain’s first baby of 2017 is of Indian origin

Speaking from her hospital bed, Bharti, a housewife, told the Sun, "She is doing well and is healthy. I was five days overdue so we expected her to be born in 2016 but the longer the labour went on I thought it might go into 2017."

Britain’s first baby of 2017 is an Indian-origin girl, who came into the world at 12.01 am, just a minute into the New Year. 35-year-old Bharti Devi, gave birth to the 6 pounds, 8 ounce baby girl Ellina Kumari at City Hospital in Birmingham, just seconds after Big Ben stopped chiming.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Bharti, a housewife, told the Sun, “She is doing well and is healthy. I was five days overdue so we expected her to be born in 2016 but the longer the labour went on I thought it might go into 2017.”

Watch what else is in the news

Bharti also has a two-year-old son Ariv Kumar with sales assistant husband Ashwani Kumar.

Story continues below this ad

“We did not really get the chance to celebrate the New Year at midnight because I was just about to give birth. It is really exciting to think she is the first baby born in Britain in 2017, it is definitely something special to tell her when she is grown up,” she added.

The new father said he is an “extremely proud dad”.

“Bharti and Ellina both being healthy is the main thing. But it is incredible to think she is the first baby of the whole year. New Year will be extra special from now on,” he said.

The new mother and baby were looked after by midwife Zulekha Samsodien, who described the birth as “special”.

Story continues below this ad

“It is special that she is the first baby of 2017 anywhere in the country, it is something to be proud of. We’ve had a couple of deliveries since as well which is really nice,” she said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Rubio hold bilateral discussions in New York

India2 hr ago

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and US Senator Rubio met in New York to discuss the 25% tariff on Indian oil imposed by Trump. This was their first in-person meeting since the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. India and the US also began talks for a trade agreement, with positive discussions during a recent visit by US trade officials to India.

View all shorts

Live Blog