In an extraordinary twist of fate a Kent mum has given birth to her son on her own birthday, Christmas Day, which statisticians say happened at staggering odds of more than 130,000-to-one.
Chloe Terry, 37, endured a labour journey spanning nearly 30 hours after feeling the first signs of contractions around 2.30am on Christmas Eve.
Her newborn, named Alfie, marked his grand entrance at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham at 8.07am on December 25, 2024, tipping the scales at a healthy 8lbs 4oz. Rewinding some years, Chloe herself entered the world at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, south-east London, at 6.05am on December 25, 1987.
The chances of both mother and child sharing birthdays on any particular day stand at astronomical odds—133,225-to-one. Following the heartbreaking loss of a baby boy just prior to Christmas 2023 at 16 weeks pregnant, Chloe treasures Alfie’s arrival as the most wonderful birthday and Yuletide gift.
The Strood resident reminisced: “Alfie’s due date was Sunday 22 December so when he was late I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t arrive on Christmas Day because I didn’t want to be away from my other son Archie who has special needs.”
She added joyfully, on reflection of her son’s timely birth: “But when Alfie arrived it was actually the best birthday and Christmas present I could have ever wished for.”
The shared birthday is a sentiment that resonates deeply with her. “Having Alfie share my birthday is an incredibly special thing, I mean what are the odds of us having the same birthday let alone both of us being born on Christmas Day? ” she remarked.
However, Chloe humorously noted that her relatives aren’t entirely thrilled about the coincidence: “My family have been lovingly cursing me though for having him on Christmas Day because it’s going to be more expensive for them now.”
Baby Alfie with his older brother Archie
(Image: Medway NHS Foundation Trust / SWNS)
Chloe and her family, including her six year old son Archie and partner, welcomed little Alfie into the world and within nine hours they were enjoying Christmas dinner at her parents’ home. Chloe shared: “My mum and dad kindly looked after Archie until we left the hospital at about 5pm when we went straight to their house as they’d cooked a Christmas dinner for us all.”
She admitted, however, that “The food was lovely but everyone was so exhausted and all over the place because of the day’s events that I don’t think anyone really enjoyed eating it unfortunately.”
She’s never minded her Christmas birthday as her parents made an effort to differentiate the celebrations and even postponed Christmas to Boxing Day for her 21st, ensuring her milestone felt unique. Chloe intends to extend the same courtesy to Alfie, saying she’ll try to continue this tradition with him.
After losing her son Thomas, discovering she was pregnant with Alfie was a shock but a delight. Chloe remarked on the arrival of her new son: “It was a bit of a whirlwind when we found out we were pregnant again so it seems surreal that Alfie is here now.”
Describing him, she added: “He is just wonderful. He’s a bit of a gannet with his grub but he is very chilled and content.”