A WOMAN who was told it was "impossible" for her to have children discovered she was pregnant just 13 weeks before her due date.

Claire Hailwood and husband Jez adopted three children, two girls, now aged 11 and nine and a boy, now five, after being told by medics Mrs Hailwood would be unable to conceive 20 years ago.

However, she gave birth to baby boy Kit, weighing 6lb, after learning she was pregnant at 27 weeks.

He was born by emergency caesarian at 37 weeks after Mrs Hailwood developed pre-eclampsia, a condition which happens when the placenta does not function correctly.

The couple now want to thank Worcestershire Royal Hospital for helping bring their special, surprise baby into the world safely.

Mrs Hailwood, aged 39, of Barbourne, said she had initially put weight gain down to an underactive thyroid, a hereditary condition both her sister and grandmother had previously been diagnosed with.

She was due to visit the doctor but discovered she was pregnant after taking a test - which she says she only took because she knew they would ask, as a precaution, at her appointment.

She said: "I nearly fell on the floor - because it was positive.

"Twenty years ago I found out I would not be able to conceive. I never use contraception.

"Effectively - I was pregnant for about 10 weeks.

"I felt that I had put on weight but I was eating well and less, but I had a new job and I was travelling to work, and I have three kids.

"We were delighted - looking back now we think 'how did we miss this'.

"We believe it was our prayers we made a decade ago were being answered. We had stopped praying after we had our brilliant kids."

Mrs Hailwood was taken into Worcestershire Royal on May 18 and Kit was born on May 22.

Speaking on her care at Worcestershire Royal, she said: "They were incredibly caring, attentive, highly professional and talked me through and walked me through these days which could potentially have been full of trauma and were definitely at one of the most vulnerable times of my life.

"Every midwife on every shift was above and beyond what we had dared to hope for. They were outstanding. It has made us so sad to see so many bad reports of the hospital because we had such a brilliant experience. Our son was born and we’re loving being parents again. It could have been so different and that is all down to the brilliant staff at the hospital.

She added: "So we can’t praise them loud enough."

The couple, who now have a "healthy and happy" four month old work at Freedom Church Worcester in Lowesmoor Wharf, where Mr Hailwood, aged 40, is director of operations.

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "We’re pleased to hear that the mum and baby are well and had a positive experience in our care. All staff across our hospitals work exceptionally hard day in, day out to provide the best possible care to all our patients.

We’re grateful for this feedback and will share her comments with our staff."