Bump to birth: Team of midwives support mums all the way

A surreptitious visit from Santa at Christmas or a tooth fairy fly-by are standard overnight surprises in childhood but little Tadhg Buckley’s treat when he awoke from slumber was far more substantial.

There at the garden gate, bathed in sunlight, was a brand new baby sister in the arms of Hazel, his mother.

While two-year-old Tadhg was deep in sleep the previous night, Hazel, 34, had gone into labour and travelled to Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) where she gave birth to Daisy on June 14. She left home in Douglas, Cork City, for the hospital at around midnight, Daisy arrived at 2.11am, and the proud mum was back home to present the wonderful surprise to Tadhg by 10am.