Home   News   Article

Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison celebrates arrival of his first child on Christmas Day with his partner Ellen Stewart at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness





Unexpected Christmas Day joy arrived for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart with the birth of their first baby in Inverness.

The couple welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world, five weeks premature, at Raigmore Hospital on December 25 at 3.19pm, weighing in at 5lb 9oz.

A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.

“It was a bit unexpected to say the least,” said new dad Sam. “But it was a really special day for us, just the way it all panned out for us happening on Christmas Day.”

After a few days to ensure all was well with mum and child, the family returned home to Aviemore on Sunday.

Their baby’s arrival had not been anticipated until the end of January, but 26-year-old Sam explained the events which led to possibly the Highlands’ first new arrival on Christmas Day.

“Ellen’s waters broke on Christmas Eve but she wasn’t getting any pains or contractions,” he said. “We phoned the hospital and they suggested coming up to the hospital for 8 o’clock so we calmly packed a bag and got ourselves up there.

“It was really a waiting game after that.

A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.

“We were kept in one of the wards and I ended up going home on Christmas Eve night to sort out a few bits in the house and take more bits up for when it was eventually to happen.

“Then Ellen messaged me in the morning to say she was three centimetres dilated, so I had to rush up that morning.

“The whole stereotypical experience would be of the mother screaming her head off and my hand nearly getting with her gripping it by her side. But the reality was that the whole experience was quite relaxed and calm to be honest - it was really nice.

“By the sound of things she was quite lucky with the labour so that made it nice overall.

“She was getting monitored with being five weeks early, heart rate monitors and a wee feeding tube through her nose.

A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.

“But after the second night in hospital, we got put up in a parent room and I was able to stay within the hospital, which was nice.”

Tiny Noa was initially put under the UV lights after she had developed a touch of newborn jaundice.

“She progressed well and was able to come into the room with us and we were left to our own devices really,” added Sam, a former player at Ross County before he joined Buckie in 2018.

“There were regular checks through the night but it was a nice feeling - that first moment being left with her.”

The couple had planned to spend their Christmas Day with Ellen’s family in Inverness, and while that schedule changed dramatically, dad was still able to celebrate some of his very special day.

A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.

“There were all of these regular checks that need done, but it was a bit surreal when you’ve just had a baby and it’s just been taken away,” he said.

“With it being Christmas Day, Ellen said to me to go to her dad’s. She was just needing some rest so she told me to go and get some Christmas dinner and maybe have a drink or two, and then I could go and see them in the morning.

“I eventually did that to be fair, a little bit later on. It was nice of her dad and her stepmum, they had a full spread on for me after they had eaten as well. It was a table-for-one when I went in, but it was nice to celebrate with them and just relax after what had been a surreal day.

“I felt weird leaving the two of them but it was pushed by Ellen, she wanted me to go and get a Christmas dinner so it was nice to get that. I went back and saw them early the next morning after a night’s rest.”

A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.
A Christmas Day baby for Buckie Thistle footballer Sam Morrison and his partner Ellen Stewart who welcomed their daughter Noa Rae Morrison into the world at 3.19pm on the big day.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More