Ms Walsh-Cockerell said the arrival of their first-born son, Jason, was a surprise, coming more than a week early. 

“I started having some pains about 11.30 last night, came in here at 1.30, stayed for about an hour and then went home,” she said. 

“We were back about 7 o’clock this morning and were done by 10.

“It’s still surreal, it doesn’t feel like Christmas at the same time.”

Ms Walsh-Cockerell said it had been a whirlwind few days. 

“Everyone said that most first babies come late so we were expecting late, not early, not Christmas,” she said.

Albury Wodonga Health midwife Abigail Cooper said it was a busy day for the maternity ward compared to previous years.

“The last two years were quiet,” she said. 

“We’ve got one more expected to be born before midnight.

“It is nice to have babies on Christmas Day.

“It makes it a little bit easier to come in away from your own family.”

There was also a festive birth at Northeast Health Wangaratta.

Laura Balfour of Wangaratta said baby Olivia was not expected until January 2, but her early arrival was the perfect gift.

“It was pretty exciting, but she will probably hate me for the rest of her life having her birthday on Christmas,” Ms Balfour said.