A PETERSFIELD couple had a surprise Christmas present when their baby son was arrived ten weeks early with no warning as 33-year-old Julia Cole prepared to go to bed.

Baby Kadim, weighing just 2lbs nine-and-a-half ounces, was born on the bathroom floor of the Petersfield town-centre home Julia shares with her 35--year-old partner Abid Firdose.

ÒIt all happened so fast I still didnÕt really realise what was happening even when I felt this real urge to push,Ó Julia told The Herald this week, Òpart of me was thinking that I was only 30 weeks pregnant and then I knew something had happened and there was silence and then a little cry, it was amazing.Ó

And new Dad Abid rose to the occasion. ÒI put pillows and towels on the floor and held JuliaÕs hand while we waited for the ambulance,Ó he said.

ÒThen moments later I realised I could see the babyÕs head and I knelt down and held his head while he was born. I patted him and then he cried and I put him next to Julia and went to call 999 again.Ó

Kadim, who has never looked back since his early arrival into the world, is in the special care unit at St MaryÕs Hospital and Julia spends most of her days with him.

She and Abid are hoping he will be home next month when he has gained weight and strength.

ÒWhat IÕm really really hoping is that he is home by my birthday on March 9,Ó Julia told The Herald.

The couple, who met while studying at Leeds University together, moved to Petersfield a year ago.

Abid, a business development consultant, and Julia, a claims handler, bought their Victorian town-centre home and began restoration work.

ÒWe wanted to really do this house up and our next project was going to be to try and start a family,Ó explained Julia.

But their plans could an unexpected turn when Julia discovered she was pregnant

in July.

ÒÓWe were thrilled,Ó she said, Òit just meant we had to work much harder and get the house finished in time and our deadline was February.Ó

ÒI was stopping work ten weeks before the birth to try and really get things done,Ó Julia said, ÒI was going to do so much but in the end I only had one day.Ó

She left her job in Basingstoke on Friday December 13. On Monday 16 she set to work in her decorators overalls, but on Tuesday afternoon she had slight pains in her stomach .

ÒI didnÕt think much about it and was seeing the doctor the next day anyway,Ó Julia said, ÒI hadnÕt been to any ante

natal classes but it vaguely

crossed my mind about labour pains so I looked it up in a book. My pains didnÕt match with the description in the

book so I didnÕt think any more about it.Ó

But she decided to have an early night and at 9 pm she went upstairs to go to bed.

ÒI told Abid if the pains didnÕt go away I thought we better get it checked out and I went upstairs. Suddenly they became much worse.Ó

Julia shouted downstairs telling Abid to call 999.

ÒIt still didnÕt occur to

me I was in labour, I thought something had gone wrong

and I couldnÕt move for the pain.Ó

Abid rushed upstairs and put sheets and pillows on the bathroom floor while they waited for an ambulance.

ÒI suddenly felt a real urge to push and then Abid said ÔOh my God I can see the head.ÕÓ Julia told The Herald.

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Shocked new Dad Abid turned the baby over and laid him on his forearm, patting his back. The couple grabbed a towel and wrapped their tiny bundle in it.