PROUD new mum Becky Bridges has had a busy few days – she celebrated her birthday on Christmas Eve and gave birth to her first child on Christmas Day.

Elsie Louise Bridges arrived a few days early to give mum Becky and dad Jack Carter an unexpected Christmas present.

She was one of three babies born at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester on December 25.

Care assistant Becky, 21, of Queen’s Road, Portland, was enjoying Christmas Day with Jack, also 21, and her parents Karl and Julie Bridges at their home in Weymouth.

Ecstatic mum Becky said: “I couldn’t have my Christmas dinner, she came too quickly.”

Elsie was the last Christmas Day baby to be born at the hospital, arriving at 10.40pm weighing 8lb 4oz. She was due on December 28.

Becky said: “It’s my birthday on Christmas Eve so I thought it might be nice if she was born on my birthday but she held on.”

It was another early arrival for Charlotte Record and husband Shagor, who were expecting a baby girl early in 2010.

Charlotte, 37, a teacher in Vietnam, came home to Weymouth to have her baby and has been staying with her parents in Coombe Valley Road, Preston.

The couple had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter – who is yet to be named – because husband Shagor, also a teacher in Vietnam, was due to fly back to Asia on January 9, just after the due date on January 4.

Charlotte said: “We were very lucky she came early, but it was a bit of shock to have her on Christmas Day.

Baby Record arrived at 3am and tipped the scales at 7lb 8oz. She is a welcome sibling to three-year-old Rafee, who spent Christmas morning with his grandparents.

The couple were back home with their new addition by midday on Christmas Day to celebrate with their family and are now concentrating on giving her a name. “We were hoping when we saw her it would all become clear,” said Charlotte. “My husband is from Bangladesh so we need a name that satisfies both families.”

First to arrive on Christmas Day at the Dorchester hospital was Megan Rose, a first child to Gemma Cuff.

Shocked mum Gemma was planning on having a quiet Christmas at home with her family before her baby was due to arrive on January 13, but Megan had other ideas.

Gemma, 18, of Poundbury Crescent, Dorchester, said: “I’m very proud. It was different to spend Christmas Day in hospital – I was just going to spend it at home with my family.”

Megan was born at 1.54am weighing 5lbs 13.5oz.