It was a real gift have our very first Christmas with little Lochlann

Local mum Nicole celebrates festive season with son after dramatic birth

- STUART MCFARLANE

It was the most special of Christmases for Riverside mum Nicole Ritchie as she celebrated beating the odds and adding to her family.

Nicole was set to give birth to baby Lochlann-Alexander Graham on July 9, but was whisked to hospital on June 13 for an emergency Caesarean section after suffering horrific pains and losing blood.

Nicole suffered a ruptured placenta during the birth at Forth Valley Royal Hospital - but doctors managed to save both mum and Lochlann just under a month before the due date.

Lochlann enjoyed his first Christmas with mum Nicole and his three big sisters - 13-year-old Summer, 11-year-old Skye and Aria, who is six.