Spirits were high in maternity wards around the country on New Year's Eve, and it's likely that one of the most excited couples around was Hannah and Michael Carpenter.
The couple are celebrating the birth of their daughter, Nancy Violet, on New Year's Day, following a nine-year struggle to conceive.
Speaking to local media, the couple revealed that they previously underwent three rounds of IVF, but "nothing worked" out for them during their almost decade-long effort to start a family.
"We decided to give up hope, which was hard," said Michael, admitting that he and his wife believed they would never have children of their own.
It was after three weeks of sleepless nights last year that Hannah got up in the middle of the night and decided to take a pregnancy test - and she couldn't believe it when the result came up positive.
The couple's much longed-for 'miracle' baby was born at Ipswich Hospital on New Year's Day, at 8.17am. Little Nancy Violet weighed in at 7lb 15oz, nine days ahead of her due date.
Congratulations to the Carpenters on their amazing news.
