LITTLE Reuben Steven Joseph Stock came into the world on the same day as the royal baby and his mum says the whole family couldn’t have had better care.

Weighing 7lbs and 3oz - the same weight as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor - Reuben needed special care as there were a few unexpected complications leading up to his birth.

Reuben’s delighted parents, Kirsty and Adam Stock from Holme near Carnforth, said the kindness, compassion and care they had received from hospital staff working for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) was outstanding.

Reuben was born at 2.07pm at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) on Monday, May 6, and it was a day the family will never forget.

The Westmorland Gazette: Kirsty and Adam Stock with baby ReubenKirsty and Adam Stock with baby Reuben

Kirsty, who works in marketing at Sedbergh School, said: “The care we have had has been fantastic. The midwives and other members of staff have been so helpful and supportive.

“I was due to be induced on the 18th of May but that was changed to May the 4th as there was reduced fetal movement and Reuben’s growth was slowing down. I came in to be induced and ended up needing to have an emergency caesarean section.

"When I was told I needed to be induced early we had lots of questions. The staff gave us very honest answers and made us feel much more confident.

“I had amazing one-to-one care with a community midwife called Jane Dewhurst from Helme Chase Midwifery Unit who we’d met before. Jane happened to be doing a shift on the unit at Lancaster that day and when she saw what we were going through, she stayed with us the whole time.

“I was frightened so just to see a familiar face was amazing. She didn’t have to stay the whole time but she did.

“She held my hand throughout the entire operation and explained everything.”

The Westmorland Gazette: Reuben StockReuben Stock

Kirsty said she had looked at various maternity units at different hospitals before deciding to have her baby at the RLI.

She explained: “We chose the RLI as we were so impressed with the way the staff spoke to us. We are glad we chose Lancaster."

Carol Carlisle, Head of Midwifery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology for UHMBT, said: “We are delighted that Kirsty and Adam appreciate the high level of care provided by our team.

“It is lovely to hear that our colleagues went above and beyond to look after Reuben, Kirsty and Adam.

“We wish them all the best in their family life and thank them for their kind words.”