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Baby boy joy as 12 born to staff on hospital ward

Grace McGrory
BBC News
BBC Eight women sitting in a park and smiling at the camera on a sunny day. In front of them are eight boys who are sitting down on the grass or on their mum's knee. Some are eating, others are looking at a bubble machine in the distance. Children's toys can be seen.BBC
Members of the "boy mum clan" formed by staff from the Rainforest ward

Staff on a hospital ward have given birth to 12 baby boys in three years – with not a girl in sight.

The nurses and other healthcare professionals were all permanent members of staff on the Rainforest ward at Lincoln County Hospital.

Jasmin, a community children's nurse and mum to 18-month-old Olly, said: "Everyone just says, well you're going to have a boy, because you've either touched something on the ward or there's something in the water.

"It's quite nice to be part of the boy mum clan."

A woman with blonde hair, pulled back, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a blue nurse's uniform with a pink Disney princess lanyard. There are two pens in one of her pockets. She is standing in a playroom which has paintings on the walls. There are also children's toys in the background including a fire truck.
Jasmin was the sixth member of staff to give birth to a boy

"It's amazing," she added. "We've all been able to talk about our experiences, labour, different ages and developments. It's so good to be able to relate with one another."

Her colleague Ellie, a junior sister on the ward, said: "It's just such a weird coincidence.

"I think I knew I was having a boy, because everyone else was. It's just what we do on Rainforest."

Two babies sitting on the grass. One is wearing blue-striped dungarees, the other a blue outfit with white bib. They are looking at a blond-haired woman who is kneeling down. In the foreground, a toddler wears a blue shirt and looks at a green bubble machine. There is a colourful xylophone on the grass.
The boys love playing with one another, the mums say

The story is tinged with sadness as the 12th baby boy, Caleb, died at 23 weeks into the pregnancy – though mum Emily says she is happy to a part of the group.

When the mums and sons got together this week, Caleb was represented by a beautiful blue teddy bear.

Rainforest is one of two children's wards at the hospital and features a play room and sensory equipment.

Bethany, a community nurse and mum to Archie, described the number of boys – rather than girls – being born to staff there as "a bit surreal".

"More just keep on being added to the boy gang," she said.

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