A MOTHER who thought she was suffering from a hernia is celebrating a new addition to the family – just 13 hours after being told she was pregnant.Rachel Bassett had been told that she would need surgery to correct what she understood to be an umbilical hernia.

A MOTHER who thought she was suffering from a hernia is celebrating a new addition to the family - just 13 hours after being told she was pregnant.

Rachel Bassett had been told that she would need surgery to correct what she understood to be an umbilical hernia.

And the concerned 31-year-old duly joined a slimming club in a bid to shed a few pounds and improve her health before the operation.

But all that changed when she came out of hospital last week with a totally unexpected package - a 7lb 7oz new arrival named Samuel Peter.

Now mother and baby, born last Wednesday, are back at home, enjoying visits from friends, after the whirlwind pregnancy she knew nothing about.

The drama unfolded on March 23 when Miss Bassett, of Short Lane, Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, went to see her consultant.

“He was having a poke around and said he just wanted to check something and went off to get a monitor,” she said.

“He found two heartbeats and said one was mine and the other was a baby and said congratulations.”

“That was on Tuesday night. They had everyone on call because I had not had any antenatal care or anything and no one had taken any blood or anything. “And then, at 7.19am he was born. We only had about 13 hours preparation time.

“There was actually no hernia at all - just a 7lb 7oz hernia. We're thrilled to bits but I'm still a bit in shock.”

Miss Bassett and her 34-year-old partner, roofing contractor Craig Stephens, have been together 10 years and have an eight-year-old daughter, Darcy. But they had no plans to add to their family.

And being concerned about her weight, Miss Bassett decided she needed to do something about it.

“I joined Weight Watchers and lost 12lb in five weeks. I had weighed in on Monday night and afterwards went to see a friend to talk about some recipes,” she said.

“Later I had some pains but we thought it was just wind.”

Craig's bosses took pity on the surprised new father and gave him a few days off to welcome his new son into the world, while Darcy has been the model big sister.

“He went back to work on Monday. He usually works all over the place but they've kept him in the yard just in case he needs to come home,” said Miss Bassett.

“And Darcy is being an absolute star. I couldn't ask for a better helper.

“People have rallied round wonderfully. I'm sure some of them are putting things in their pockets before they leave so they have excuse to come back and see us.”

The only question left is how the little life slipped through the net.

Miss Basset said: “The hernia was diagnosed in October, by which time I would have been some way through my pregnancy.

“I had two pregnancy tests - one by myself and one at the surgery. It didn't come back positive but I have been told that might be because I was beyond first trimester.

“It's like I fell through a crack in the pavement.”