A first-time mum was stunned to discover she was expecting a baby boy after multiple scans confirmed she was having a girl. Leanne Grady, 22, had picked out a name for her little one - and her family spent months preparing for her arrival.
So, you can imagine how they felt when the "bombshell" truth was dropped on them just weeks before the baby's arrival. Leanne and partner, Matt Nethacott, 25, were overjoyed to welcome a beautiful, healthy baby boy, but that isn't to say the pair weren't shocked by the change of plans.
The expectant mum first believed she was expecting a girl after she paid £60 for a private scan at 17 weeks, excited to find out her baby's gender.
Her partner had been hoping for a daughter and the couple immediately started making plans. Three weeks later, at their routine 20-week scan, it was confirmed again that they were having a little girl. The pair quickly decided on the name 'Amelia', and kitted out her nursery with personalised clothing, pink baby grows and adorable little dresses.
However, the parents-to-be got a big surprise when a 34-week growth scan revealed there had been a mistake - and they were actually expecting a boy.
Recalling the moment she discovered the truth, Leanne, from Worcestershire, said: "I was having one of my final scans, and the doctor asked what we were having. I told them that we were having a girl, and they looked confused. They scanned the baby's leg, and we realised that it wasn't a girl at all."
"I couldn't believe it and it was difficult to get my head around at first. I was weeks away from giving birth, and suddenly I was hit with this bombshell. All we wanted was for the baby to be healthy and happy, but it was difficult to come to terms with a first," she added. "We'd thought about the woman that she would one day grow up to be, like walking her down the aisle on her wedding day. It was sad. But now I can't imagine life without our Noah, he's perfect."
Leanne gave birth to her son, Noah William Nethacott, on August 17, 2022 at 1.01pm, weighing 6lbs 9oz, at Worcester Royal Hospital. Proud parents Leanne and Matt started trying for a baby shortly after moving into their first home together in December 2021.
"I've always wanted to be a young mum," Leanne explained. "When Matt and I met, we knew we both wanted the same things in life. We were so lucky to fall pregnant really quickly and we were both so excited."
Overjoyed by their happy news, the couple organised a gender reveal party. Leanne said: "I'd always dreamed of having a gender reveal party, so we went all out and made a real celebration of it. I was just so happy to be pregnant and couldn't wait to find out what I was having."
"Matt had always wanted a little girl," she added. "My mother-in-law only has grandsons, so we were really excited to be having a girl in the family."
As the couple now know, of course, they were expecting a boy all along, but they hope to welcome a little girl in the future, and if they do, they'll be set, as Leanne predicts she spent roughly £200 on the daughter she thought she was due to have.
Talking of baby Noah's unexpected arrival, the mum said: "Luckily he hasn't had to wear any pink clothes, but we've kept them in case he has a sister one day.
"We couldn't return anything because we'd cut out the tags and washed everything, but we've kept them to give to friends.
"We were given neutral coloured baby clothes from friends before I gave birth, so we didn't struggle too much – but it was quite nice to have another excuse to go out shopping."
Four months on, the family can't wait to celebrate their first Christmas together. "Having Noah is the best thing to ever happen to us, and I really can't imagine him being any other way now," said Leanne. "It definitely was a shock, but it's part of our story and it's worth it to have our beautiful son now. Noah is such a good baby, we’ve been so lucky. He's amazing and so smiley."
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