New Year’s Day baby in Winchester gives parents best start to 2023

Clare Heaysman gave birth to her first child Mason John Andrew Weston at 3.37am on New Year’s Day at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

Terry Weston, her partner, enjoyed a glass of non-alcoholic prosecco while Terry Weston watched as they welcomed 2023 to the labour ward.

Clare, 40, said: “It’s amazing, the best ever start to a new year. The due date was Christmas but he held on and decided to be new year’s baby instead.

“You always have a party around the new year so it’s a good day to have a baby. He’s going to have so much fun when he’s 18 as it will seem like all the parties are for his birthday.

“He has cousins who were born a few weeks before and few days after so there will be lots of family celebrations at this time of year. There will be cards up at all the time for at least two weeks after Christmas.”

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The mother, who’s a senior lecturer at King’s College London, was taken to the hospital a few days before giving birth and was finally allowed to leave with her son on January 3 after having a C-section. Terry, 43-year-old partner, took an additional week off following his two weeks paternity leave. This was to assist his family’s recovery.

Mason weighed 7lb 11oz in his first year of life. He was named after his grandfathers, John and Andrew.

Clare added: “We are enjoying settling down to family life with our cat Whisper. We want to thank all the antenatal, labour and postnatal staff in the Geoffrey Hammond Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital for all the amazing care and support they provided, especially midwives Liz and Jade who were there during the labour and birth.”