South Shields couple welcome baby they never knew they were having - with South Tyneside Hospital staff saying he's 'made their year'

A South Shields couple have welcomed the best Christmas present ever – a baby they never knew they were having.
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Harry George James Dennison made a very surprise entrance into the world on December 3, with mum Kayley Young, 33, having no idea she was even pregnant.

The Asda worker had gone to A&E with severe back pain, only for Harry to arrive six minutes later, much to the delight of emergency staff at South Tyneside Hospital who say his arrival in the department has made their year.

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During the lockdowns, Kayley, who is also mum to Kaiden, nine, and Lewis, six, had been suffering from heartburn and had put on a small amount of weight, but she and partner Chris Dennison, 47, put it down to take aways and nights in due to the situation.

A&E staff at South Tyneside Hospital say Harry has "made their year."A&E staff at South Tyneside Hospital say Harry has "made their year."
A&E staff at South Tyneside Hospital say Harry has "made their year."

It’s the first child for Chris, but he says despite his son’s shock arrival it was very much love at first sight.

"That paternal instinct kicked in straight away and we are both over the moon,” said Chris, a business enablement specialist for tech company Opayo.

Kayley had experienced symptoms with her previous two pregnancies, but doctors have said her third was a cryptic pregnancy, in which mum displays no indications of pregnancy until labour.

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As she had no idea of the pregnancy, she’d missed out on the usual pre-natal appointments, but Harry was still born at a healthy 6lb 3oz, is putting on weight well and has passed all his medical tests.

Chris Dennison, partner Kayley Young and surprise, but very welcome, arrival baby Harry.Chris Dennison, partner Kayley Young and surprise, but very welcome, arrival baby Harry.
Chris Dennison, partner Kayley Young and surprise, but very welcome, arrival baby Harry.

Emergency staff at South Tyneside Hospital, who’ve been at the frontline of the pandemic, were so delighted with his arrival that they’ve since sent him a card and gifts saying “After an awful year in ED you’ve made our year.”

Chris, who lives in Westoe with Kayley, his partner of 18 months, said: “Kayley has had a few aches and pains in the past few months, but we had no inkling of this, she’s been at work the whole time.

"The morning Harry was born she’d woken up with really intense back pain that was coming and going. But she woke the boys as normal and walked them to school. She was in so much pain when she got back that she rang her dad and his partner who took her to A&E.

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"She’d rang me on the way and I’d spoken to my boss who said I could go and see her as we had no idea what it was. The next phone call I had she said ‘are you sitting down? I’ve had a baby.’

Baby Harry with gifts and a card from the emergency department at South Tyneside Hospital.Baby Harry with gifts and a card from the emergency department at South Tyneside Hospital.
Baby Harry with gifts and a card from the emergency department at South Tyneside Hospital.

"Her dad had admitted her to A&E at 11.47am and Harry was born at 12.03pm in the hands of one of the nurses. At the very last minute she felt the need to push and it was then she realised. It was a very quick birth. I had a quick cry when I found out I was dad, it was always something I thought I would have planned, but I’ve never known so much love than I have when I met him.”

Chris was the only person allowed into Maternity to see Kayley, due to Covid, but after an overnight stay both mum and baby were sent home healthy.

The couple didn’t have as much as a babygrow for Harry, but Chris says their friends, family and colleagues have been very supportive and have rallied round.

“Asda South Shields where Kayley works did a whip round and we’ve been inundated with clothes and offers of push chairs. Everyone is so happy for us,” he said.

Harry Dennison is putting on weight and has a clean bill of health, despite his shock arrival in the worldHarry Dennison is putting on weight and has a clean bill of health, despite his shock arrival in the world
Harry Dennison is putting on weight and has a clean bill of health, despite his shock arrival in the world

Chris added: "A&E have been brilliant, we’re so grateful to them and they say he’s been a beautiful present after an awful year for them. For us, we’re so excited to spend our first Christmas with him. He’s absolutely no bother, just like he was during the pregnancy.”

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