It was one unforgettable new year for a Birmingham mum – who was among the first in Britain to have a baby in 2016.
Valentine Mayekiso, from Erdington, gave birth to little Nathan at 12.22am on New Year’s Day.
The tot came into the world at Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope Hospital weighing 3.11kg after Valentine went into labour at 9am on New Year’s Eve.
Valentine, 26, is orginally from Zimbabwe and said she hoped Nathan, her first child, would embrace different cultures as he grew up.
The proud mum said: “It took so long that I wasn’t thinking about having the one of the first babies of the New Year – I just wanted him to arrive as it was taking forever.
“At one point I felt like giving up because I was tired and hungry but the staff were amazing, they really took care of me.
“The doctors and midwives were very encouraging.”
Valentine lives with her South African husband Thembela.
She is a qualified accountant but plans to spend time at home with her new arrival before possibly going back to work two or three days a week.
She attends the Power of the Word Ministries in Birmingham and hopes Nathan will adopt good Christian values while also learning about other cultures.
“I want him to grow up and achieve his dreams and be a good person,” she said.
“For me, as a Christian, I would like my child to go to church with me.
“At our church we are from different cultures but we are all one.
“I would also like him to travel and experience different cultures, and to come home having learnt something.
“I want him to get the best out of life.”-Birmingham mail