CHRISTMAS truly was full of joy for families who received the best present they could have wished for.

Baby Holly should have been born on December 20, but she finally decided to enter the world on Christmas Day.

Her proud mother Nicola Obe, 30, said she went into labour on Christmas Eve and after 30 hours Holly was eventually delivered at Southend Hospital by Caesarean section.

Mrs Obe and her husband Jason, 34, who both live in Westcliff, said they were delighted with their little bundle, who weighed 7lbs 9ozs, and they couldn’t wait to get her home.

A college tutor for young people with learning disabilities, she said: “We are both really tired and emotional, but it has all been so worthwhile.

“We can finally have our Christmas Day now.

“Everything is still under the tree. We bought food for Christmas as we weren’t expecting Holly to be born so early so we will have that when we get home.”

Fellow first-time mum Julie Dalorto, 37, from Hockley, also gave birth to a baby girl at the hospital on Christmas Day.

Lola, who weighted 7lbs and 4ozs, came as even more of a surprise to Mrs Dalorto and her husband George, because not only was she due to be born on New Year’s Eve, they were convinced she would be a boy.

Mrs Dalorto said: “I had a feeling the baby was going to come early because it runs in the family. My mum had both my sister and I early.

“We were 99 per cent sure she was a little boy and for the past nine months I’ve been calling her a he. It wasn’t until towards the end I thought she could be a girl.”

Mrs Dalorto said Lola’s half-sister Taliah, 11, was looking forward to getting the latest addition to her family and has even offered to help with her nappies.

Over in Basildon Alan Emerson, 47, was over the moon after his wife Jennifer, 27, gave birth to twins at Basildon Hospital on Christmas Day.

Molly Ann weighed 4lbs 4oz and Oliver Charles weighed 4lbs 13oz.

Mr Emerson, 47, who lives in East Tilbury, said the babies were not due until January 23, but his wife had a feeling they would be coming a lot sooner.

Mr Emerson said: “The twins have come as a lovely Christmas present.

“We are over the moon. We went out to dinner on Christmas Eve and had something to eat. My wife kept saying they’re going to be born tomorrow and I said no, it’s too early, but she was right.”

Mr Emerson, who has three grown-up children from a previous relationship, said being at the birth was an emotional experience.

He said: “I have been at the birth of all my children and even though my other children were born many years ago it was just as emotional seeing the twins being born.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff at the maternity unit. They were really great. There was no tension. They were serious when they needed to be and light- hearted when they could be. They really kept everyone going.”

Baby Elizabeth also came earlier than her parents expected.

Rita Baah, 34, said her daughter, who weighed 6lbs 6oz, was due on January 9. However, it seems being born on special occasions is nothing unusual for the family as her twin brother and sister were born on Valentine’s Day.

Now the mum-of-five, who lives with her family in Purfleet said she is looking forward to bringing Elizabeth home so she can get to know all her siblings.

Little David was due to be born on December 17, but he held out and gave his delighted first-time parents a special surprise by coming into the world on Christmas Day.

David weighed 7lbs 15ozs and his grandmother Gavina Scerbatova praised midwives at Basildon Hospital for the care they had given her daughter Julena Scerbatova, 25.

Mrs Scerbatova, a Lithuanian national, also told how David’s father Arbi Cekrezi, 27, stayed by his partner’s side throughout the birth.

The family were looking forward to taking David back to their Grays home.