A BLUSHING bride-to-be was given a day she will never forget for more than one reason when her long-term partner proposed just moments after she had given birth to their daughter.

Most couples get engaged in a fancy restaurant, on a sun-drenched beach or at the Eiffel Tower, but Ray Jenkins decided to pop the big question to the love of his life as she sat in a birthing pool on the maternity ward at Basildon Hospital.

Samantha Curry, 26, was cradling her newborn daughter Kate following a five hour water birth when Mr Jenkins, 31, got down on one knee and produced a stunning diamond ring.

The couple, from Vange, have been together for seven years and are also parents to five year-old Grace, who is looking forward to being bridesmaid at the upcoming wedding.

Mr Jenkins, who is the son of Basildon Hospital's only male midwife, said: "I had the idea to ask her in hospital, but we had some false alarms with her having contractions.

We had come into the labour ward a few times, and every time I had to remember to bring the ring, and then hide it again. A couple of times I left it in the car in the rush, so it’s lucky I didn’t lose it.”

Kate was born at 9.43pm on Sunday , weighing 8lbs.

Miss Curry said: “It was a really good experience. I wanted a water birth and it all went just as I hoped; I only had some gas and air for pain relief.

"Our midwife, Wilma Jansen, was fantastic; so calming and reassuring, and she really kept me going when I thought I couldn’t go on.

“I was holding Kate, and I asked Ray to pass me a towel, but he said, ‘Before I get that, I have something to ask you’ and he got down on one knee. I was ecstatic and I said ‘yes, of course.’”

Mr Jenkins, who runs a plastering business, added: “I did wonder if maybe it was too much pressure on Samantha to propose when she’d just given birth, but I didn’t think she’d turn me down and luckily she said yes.”