A MUM has finally welcomed her eighth baby into the world a week after going into labour at her own wedding reception – where she was entertaining guests with her band.

Laura and Lou Louis, members of The Blarneys band, chose St Patricks Day to tie the knot due to their love of Irish folk music.

They knew they were taking a risk as the special day was close to their due date – but having 11 midwives on the guestlist eased their concerns.

The newest addition to the family faced a rocky ride, but arrived safely thanks to the help of medics at Southend Hospital.

Mrs Louis, 36, of Honiton Road, Southend, was rushed to the maternity department in her wedding dress after experiencing contractions while she was on stage entertaining guests at her wedding reception at the Plough pub, in London Road, Westcliff.

She said: “St Patrick’s Day is really special to us. We started seeing each other on that day in 2013 and Lou proposed to me in the Plough.

“It was all going well but I went from happy to ‘ouch’ in moments. We came off stage halfway through at 9.30pm and by then they pain had gone from zero to 60.

“My mum is a midwife so there were a lot of maternity staff at the reception. There were 11 midwives and we were joking that I’d be all right if I went into labour. When I did I was a bit worried there wouldn’t be any at the maternity ward as they were all at my wedding!

“When we got to the hospital there was a midwife by the door. She did a bit of double-take when I walked in wearing my wedding dress.”

Doctors managed to stop her contractions. Nicholas, the couple’s first child together, was finally born eight days later on Saturday, weighing 6lb 10oz.

The birth wasn’t all plain sailing, and little Nicholas certainly gave his mum and dad a few anxious moments.

Mrs Louis said: “It didn’t go too smoothly and he nearly died at one point but they got him back and everything turned out all right .”

He joins her seven other children - Sophie, 19, Daniel, 17, Megan, 14, Jessica, 11, Lily, 11, Alex, nine, and four-year-old Dottie.

Mr Louis, 62, also known as Mando, said: “We had the wedding at the register office and were hoping we would make it through the reception. We managed to get through half of the gig.”

The Blarney’s formed a decade ago, with Mrs Louis joining to lead the group four years ago.

The couple are in for a busy time as they also own the Big Bang party shop, in London Road, Leigh. Mrs Louis is planning to return to work there on Monday.

In addition, with her eldest daughter expecting a baby in June Mrs Louis is about to become a grandmother – but luckily she’s not short of helpers.

She said: “All the kids love him. They won’t leave him alone. It’s all good.”