A SAME sex couple celebrate the birth of their baby girl at the same time as the pride parade.

Lyndsay Gardner, 32, of Rottingdean, gave birth to a healthy baby named Pearl. She has been with her partner, Vanessa, for five years and the pair have always wanted to start a family.

Lyndsay, said Pearl weighed 6lbs 9oz pounds when she was born at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

“She is truly our Pride baby. We are a same sex couple, and our midwife is also a lesbian so it was a true pride situation all round.

“Pearl is our second baby. Our first child is Violet who is 18 months old. I gave birth to both of the girls through IVF.

“The process was long and stressful. We had to go through a lot of red tape, signed many forms, and I underwent health tests to make sure I was fit.

“IVF isn’t always successful and the chances of success are slim. Some people we know haven’t had any success yet. We were lucky to have Violet and Pearl.”

Lyndsay said they felt blessed as they did not face discrimination or prejudice.

She said: “We think this is a lovely story to share because it celebrates parenthood, family and diversity.

“We had a lot of support for our decision. Brighton is a vibrant and welcoming city that accepts different families.

“Violet’s nursery school has been very supportive, they treat us just like any other parent.

“There are still ongoing prejudice against same sex couples who want to have kids. My advice is to just go for it, and don’t be afraid of what others might think.

“All families come in different sizes and shapes. Make sure you are aware of family with support groups like Rainbow Families and Switchboard.

“I believe our kids have a good start in life because they have the early opportunity to learn about diversity, and understand what acceptance means. I really want to thank our midwife Laura Walker at the Royal Sussex. She has supported us in our journey into parenthood.”