A 33-year-old woman is believed to have become the UK’s youngest gran last week after her daughter gave birth to a baby girl.
Gemma Skinner, was apparently mistaken for the newborn baby’s aunt by staff in the maternity ward when her 17-year-old daughter became a mother.
The childminder said that initially she didn’t like the idea of being a “nan” or a “granny” but now that she is Gemma couldn’t be more delighted.
Mum-of-three, Gemma, said she loves being out and out with her baby grand-daughter but that, when many people see her, they believe she is the mother of week-old Larosa Maè.
Newborn Larosa’s mum Maizie, was born when Gemma was just 16-years-old, according to a Mirror Online report.
Maizie has two sisters who have also now become aunts to Larosa. Gracie, 10 and Bella, who is just four-years-old.
Ms Skinner told Sun : “I did the school run with the baby this week and someone came over to me and asked if she was mine.
“I had to explain that she’s my grand-daughter and they were quite shocked. Everyone has assumed she is Maizie’s younger sister so we have to keep explaining that she’s actually her daughter.
“People mistake me for her mum all the time.
“When Maizie was in hospital, the nurse who came to give her an epidural asked if we were sisters. We can laugh about it because it happens all the time. I’m used to it now.”
Ms Skinner said that she was initially worried when she found out her oldest daughter was pregnant, remembering how difficult it was for her to become a mum at such young age.
“My first reaction was worry because it wasn’t easy for me when I found out that I was pregnant so young,” she continued. “But I wouldn’t change anything for the world and I love our little family. Maizie has taken to being a mum so naturally and I’m so proud of her.”
Maizie went into labour last Saturday and, after a difficult birth, the baby was born weighing 8lb 4oz at 1.20am on Sunday.
Ms Skinner said that Maizie had to be induced and had an epidural that didn’t work work one side.
The head was born for three minutes without the body, she continued, before describing the birth as “very traumatic”.
The teenager and her boyfriend Jack Weir, 19, have called their baby Larosa Maè.
Maizie and Jack are both now in the family home in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, so the grandmother can help out with childcare.
Ms Skinner said it had been really good so far as they are a close-knit family, adding that it was lovely for the baby to have so many people around to support her.
She added that her two daughters are loving being aunties and had been very sweet with their new niece.
However, Ms Skinner said her own mother was not ready to be called a great-grandmother when she is in her 50s.
Maizie said she was scared to tell her mum she was pregnant, but had received overwhelming support.
“She just hugged me and told me it would be OK and supported me from then,” she continued.
“I don’t know where I would be without her.
“She’s teaching me everything I need to know and more and I’m so grateful for her.”
