'I had my baby on Christmas Day – here’s what it was really like and how I make his birthday special'

While the rest of the world was unwrapping presents, Keira Meredith was giving birth at home to her baby boy Elliot. Here she shares what labour on Christmas Day was really like — and how she makes sure his birthday never gets lost among the festivities.

An adorable baby dressed in a red Santa costume is peacefully sleeping on a soft gray blanket, surrounded by festive holiday decorations including gifts, a reindeer figurine, a miniature Christmas tree, and a red sleigh. This cozy holiday-themed composition evokes feelings of joy, family traditions, and the magic of Christmas, making it perfect for use in greeting cards, holiday campaigns, or parenting content.

Published: December 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM

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"It was dark outside when I woke up with unfamiliar twinges in my womb that, at nine months into my pregnancy, could only mean one thing. I slid out of bed, careful not to wake my partner in case it was just a false alarm, and felt my way through the dark to the bathroom, twinkling Christmas lights from the living room lighting my way down the hall.

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When I’d found out I was pregnant and given my baby’s due date, I wasn’t sure what to think. December 25th? Surely not.

I knew he was going to be a winter baby, but to have his birthday actually fall on Christmas Day seemed unfair.

Keira Meredith

How would I afford double presents forevermore? How would he feel about always having to share his special day with a huge community celebration? How could I possibly make sure that his birthday felt as important as everyone else’s?

Now, here I was in the early hours of Christmas morning, in our brand-new house with all the decorations up, sitting in the bath and feeling increasingly sure that the moment had come – my baby was right on time. But, despite all my worries beforehand, when it came to it, having my son arrive on Christmas Day was the last thing on my mind. It didn’t matter, and while I was listening to my hypnobirthing recording, the date didn’t even cross my mind.

We’d planned for a home birth, so as the contractions started to grow stronger, I asked my partner to fill the pool and call my midwife and doula. It was still dark outside, I’m not sure what time, but early enough that the world felt perfectly still and peaceful.

I looked out of my bedroom window as I sat on my birthing ball, waiting for the pool to fill, watching the fairy lights glimmering through people’s windows and the slight glow emanating from the light covering of snow on the ground. But where my support network lived, in a neighbouring town in Wales, things weren’t quite so peaceful. The weather was worse there; snow was falling, and my partner delivered the news that my midwife and doula might not be able to get to me in time.

Thankfully, everything was going smoothly at that point, so I tried not to worry. Even as my surges intensified, the warm water in the pool was enough to soothe most of my discomfort. Despite the situation, I felt incredibly calm, and I heard the words from my mum echoing in my ears, sharing wisdom based on a lifetime of living and working on a farm: “You wouldn’t interfere with a cow when she was birthing, would you? Just leave her to it!” I continued to breathe and gently sway as instructed by the voice of the hypnobirthing expert sounding out of the speaker.

To be on the safe side, we decided we’d better call an ambulance and get to the hospital. Everything was going so smoothly, and my pain from the contractions was so minimal that I thought we must have ages to go. But the universe had other plans!

I could hear my partner standing outside the door on the phone as our boy entered the world almost without warning – a fast and practically pain-free labour, alone, just me and him, on Christmas morning.

Keira Meredith

By the time my midwife, the doula and the paramedic arrived, I had Elliott resting on my chest in the pool, his placenta bobbing around beside us. I couldn’t help but laugh at how like the Three Wise Men they were, arriving to gaze upon this beautiful, perfect little boy after such a natural and free labour. I couldn’t have planned it better. It was my dream birth story.

After being checked over and cutting the cord, our birth team went back to enjoy Christmas with their family, and before long, our family arrived in their stead.

All of our parents (now grandparents!) came by with Christmas dinner on trays and in Tupperware, and we spent the day eating, singing, laughing, hugging and opening presents, just like any other Christmas morning. But this time, with the greatest gift of all in our midst, a new baby, and a whole lot more love than I ever could have imagined feeling.

White Vintage Minimalist Photo Instagram Post Portrait (1240 x 826 px)

Elliot celebrating his birthday on Christmas Day (credit: Keira Meredith)

Elliott turns nine this year, and having his birthday on Christmas Day has never been a problem – in fact, he loves it! He’s always keen to get the festive decorations up as soon as December arrives, but his dad and I always make sure he’s got a space that’s just for him and his birthday banners and balloons!

The morning is for Elliott – the 25th December is now first and foremost his birthday. We wake up, have a birthday breakfast, open his presents and cards and make a fuss of him just as though it’s a birthday on any other day of the year. Then the afternoon transforms into Christmas, and the fun never ends!

We’ve talked about how, when he’s older, he might like to try having a summer birthday – we’ll just choose a day, and that can be his honorary birthday, if he likes. But for now, he doesn’t want to. He loves having his birthday and Christmas combined, and I love telling his birth story. It was an incredibly powerful, life-changing, magical experience and one I wouldn’t change for the world."

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As told to Ruby Deevoy by Keira Meredith, age 40, who lives in Edinburgh with her son Elliot. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How to make birthdays special for your December baby

Authors

Ruby Deevoy

Ruby is a natural health, beauty and wellness writer based in Scotland.

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