First ever baby born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital celebrates 10th birthday

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A Stenhousemuir schoolgirl’s birthday is always an extra special event because she was the first ever baby born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital (FVRH).

Every time FVRH celebrates an anniversary milestone – as it did last week on its own 10th birthday – young Erin Grant will always be linked to the massive facility, because on this day – July 12 – 10 years ago she came into the world in the hospital’s maternity ward.

"There were other mums in labour at the time,” said Erin’s mum Claire (44). “But I was told Erin was the first baby to be born there.”

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Erin, who is moving up to primary six at Stenhousemuir Primary School in August, is today busy celebrating her birthday with a garden party with family and friends, but she returned to FVRH maternity ward last weekend with her mum, dad Alan (47) – who now works at the hospital as a maintenance officer with Serco – and big brother Connor (17) to mark the milestone, just as she had five years ago.

Erin Grant celebrates her 10th birthday today - she was the first baby ever born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on July 12, 2011.Erin Grant celebrates her 10th birthday today - she was the first baby ever born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on July 12, 2011.
Erin Grant celebrates her 10th birthday today - she was the first baby ever born in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on July 12, 2011.

Claire said: “She does feel special because she was the first baby born at the hospital.”

And so she should – since the hospital officially opened on July 6, 2011, it has seen 30,000 babies born there and Erin was the very first.

"It was different when I was pregnant with Connor,” said Claire. “I had him in August in Stirling back then and the difference between the two labour ward’s was night and day.

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"Forth Valley Royal Hospital was just so much better, with state-of-the-art equipment."

Having said that, the hospital itself was still undergoing some final construction issues, which were a slight cause for concern for Claire and Alan.

"We were going to the ward and I noticed there was some electrical work still going on with the lights. At the time my due date was July 3, so I thought I would be going to Stirling again, but Erin came along later.

"When we actually got to Forth Valley Royal Hospital someone told us the maternity ward wasn’t up and running – I said we were told it was on the phone and it better be okay because we’re coming in.”