Man sleeps through birth of his child

SLEEPLESS nights are not expected to be a problem for new dad Antony Probets - as he managed to sleep through the birth of his first child!

In fact he only woke up when girlfriend Gemma McSheffrey put baby Paige Elizabeth in his arms!

Paige is now at home at real ale pub The Fleece in Westgate, Huddersfield, but her crying is still not stirring Antony, who acknowledges that he is a heavy sleeper.

He added: "Paige is fine, no problem. She's not keeping us awake much at night at all."

Twenty-year-old Gemma screamed for help from Antony when she went into labour last Tuesday.

The couple had gone to the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax after she started having contractions, but they were sent home, as the first-time mum was only in the early stages of labour.

But when they returned home Gemma's contractions started getting stronger and then her waters broke.

"Antony is a very heavy sleeper. I can never wake him and he's always the last one up," said Gemma.

"I had a really big urge to push, so I did."

Less than 10 minutes later, at 6.30am, Paige was born in the bathroom, weighing 7lb 3oz.

Antony slept throughout!

The 19-year-old said: "When I realised it was real I was so shocked. I'm sad because I wanted to be there for the birth, but I am so proud of Gemma."

See the Huddersfield Examiner for the full story.