New Year baby joy for parents

Want to buy this photo?

Shabeena Shabbir, 27, with son Hamzah

New Year’s Day was a very special occasion for one Rochdale family – because their first child was born.

Hamzah Fiaz arrived at 5.02pm on 1 January at The Royal Oldham Hospital weighing 6lb 8.5oz.

Parents Shabeena Shabbir, 27, and Usman Fiaz, 32, had been expecting their little one on 15 January but cholestasis meant that their son was delivered early.

Shabeena was admitted on Friday 30 December to be induced for both her and her baby’s safety, but because that failed she had a Caesarean section two days later, on New Year’s Day.

Shabeena, a senior care assistant, said: “It was definitely a nice start to the New Year.”

She added: “We didn’t know whether we were having a boy or a girl, but I wasn’t really bothered as long as he or she was healthy.”