Ludlow Hospital gives silver spoon gift to newborn
She is the third generation of girls to be born at a Shropshire hospital, but almost missed out on her silver spoon.
Moments later and mother Sasha Taylor would have been whisked off from Ludlow to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford to have little Willow Harris – and Willow would not be receiving the silver spoon for first baby born at Ludlow maternity unit this year.
Willow was born weighing 9lb 1oz on January 3 to Ms Taylor, a 25-year-old beauty therapist, and James Harris, 29, a scaffolder, and is a new baby sister to Ava, three, who was also born at Ludlow Hospital.
The family have now been given an antique silver spoon by the League of Friends of Ludlow Hospital in a tradition going back decades.
Mr Harris said Willow was seven days overdue and if Sasha had been in labour any longer at Ludlow, she would have had to go to Telford for specialist care.
"We had an ambulance called ready to take her, but as the paramedics arrived Willow was near enough born," he said.
Ms Taylor said she was determined she would have her baby at Ludlow.
"I was born in this unit, as was Ava, and my mum, so there is a long tradition in our family. It's lovely here, I can't fault it. It is a really nice place to enjoy one of life's miracles and the staff here do a wonderful job."
She said Willow had been harder work coming into the world than Ava.
"But we got there in the end and it was worth it." She said Ava, who goes to Busy Bodies nursery in Ludlow, had bonded instantly with her new sister. "But she was shocked at first – she kept looking at my belly and then looking at the baby."
Peter Corfield, chair of the League of Friends, said he was pleased to present the spoon, which was manufactured in Sheffield in 1894 by Charles William Fletcher and sourced by local dealer Phil Hoare.
He said: "This tradition was introduced many years ago by our late president, Howard Watkins.
"We believe that the maternity unit in Ludlow is an asset to our rural community and we hope that the ultrasound equipment that the League has purchased will be used for obstetric pre-natal care.
"There are also plans for remodelling the birthing suite, including a birthing pool, which the League will provide," he added.
