WHEN Keely Swift went into labour she had no idea of the big surprise that was awaiting her.

The 26-year-old, who lives in Norman Avenue, Newton-le-Willows, gave birth to Noah Michael Jack Hopkins on May 22 at 2.20am naturally with only gas and air for pain relief.

So it was a bit of a shock when dad Michael Hopkins, an IT security consultant at St Helens College, told her their first born had tipped the scales at a whopping 12lbs 4oz.

"I have never seen a room go so quiet," proud dad Michael said.

"There were a lot of people in the room at the time and we had to weigh him again just to make sure.

"We had no idea he was going to be so big because it hadn't been picked up at any appointments with the midwives or anything.

"He did get a bit stuck but Keely was amazing. He is a bruiser."

It hasn't all been plain sailing for the new parents as Noah, who was due on May 14, contracted an infection, known as strep B, during his birth and had to be kept on the neo-natal unit at Warrington Hospital while he recovered.

Michael, 34, said: "He has been through the mill a bit. He had to have a lumbar puncture because they thought it might be meningitis.

"When they came and said it would be the best thing to do, it was devastating but they found out it was strep B because they tested Keely for it before the bloods came back.

"Apparently a lot of woman carry the bacteria but rarely pass it to their baby but we think because he got a bit stuck he might have been exposed to it for longer.

"The help we have had here has been amazing. The staff and the care we have received has just been superb."

Noah and Keely, an admin assistant, were both treated with antibiotics and while mum is recovering well at home, Noah is expected to be well enough to join her today, Thursday.

Noah is thought to be one of the biggest babies born at Warrington Hospital in the last few years.