A DAD who had booked a day off work to celebrate his birthday was faced with the biggest surprise when his wife suddenly gave birth.

Stefan Hajduga, 31, had arranged time off to celebrate his birthday, not knowing that his present would be helping his wife, Victoria, as she went into labour.

Their son, Ellis, was born at their home in Willow Close, Hockley on Wednesday after a rapid birth.

Stefan said: “I think he was out in under a minute from when his head started crowning.

“It wasn’t as stressful and as worrying as it would have been if it was a more drawn out labour.

“She had two contractions and then the baby was out.”

The couple, who also have two-year-old son Jesse, had planned to have a home birth but weren’t quite prepared for just how quick Victoria’s labour would be.

He added: “It was nothing like how it was when she had our other son. She got the pains at around 6am and had a bath at around half 7.

“She called me up at around 7.45am saying that the baby was coming.

“It felt good that I was able to help.

“I didn’t have time to worry about whether I was going to be able to do it because he was on his way immediately so I had to just help her kneel down and get the baby out.”

Stefan said they had planned a home birth but we weren’t prepared for it to happen so quickly.

“It wasn’t so much of a shock of being at home but it was more the timing of how quick it happened.

“I’m so proud of my wife for how calm and in control she was during the whole birth.

“She wasn’t panicking at all and we both had trust in each other. She was elated when she got to hold Ellis and it was so nice to see them together. We’re so lucky all went well.”

Stefan now gets to share his special day with his son every year.

He said: “It’s always going to be nice to look back on it and to share the day together. When it comes to my birthday I’ll be excited to share it with him.”