A Christmas Day baby brought glad tidings to one Bermuda family -- but only after they saved the turkey.

Stacey Irving gave birth to her fourth daughter at 1.23 p.m. just as the rest of the Island was tucking into its Christmas lunch.

And Mrs. Irving even remembered to phone around the family to save her own roast before driving off to the maternity unit.

The 33-year-old told The Royal Gazette that her waters broke at around 12.30 on Christmas morning.

But before getting ready to give birth, she asked her niece to pop over and take the turkey out of the oven.

Mrs. Irving got her niece to come around and look after her three daughters while she calmly got ready for labour.

Her new child's father, ex-husband Anthony, was also told that he was about to become a Christmas Day dad.

And Mrs. Irving drove herself to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to prepare for a Christmas never to forget.

Speaking from her hospital bed, she said last night: "I really don't know how to feel about this Christmas.

"I'm very relieved that everything went OK and I have a healthy baby girl.

"I'm certainly used to giving birth because this is my fourth child and I've been through it all before.

"But I must admit that it was a very awkward time. When I could feel my waters breaking, I actually had a turkey in the oven.

"But thankfully I was able to call my older niece. She came in and looked after the children and she also finished up preparing the dinner.

"The Cassava Pie got a bit burnt but by all accounts it wasn't too bad.'' Mrs. Irving and her newborn baby, who came in weighing five pounds ten ounces, were due to head home to Redcoat Lane, St. George's later today.

She added: "Perhaps I'll be able to enjoy my slice of turkey then. I've got three girls already, aged 11, nine and three, so I'll just have to hope they haven't finished everything off.'' Then Mrs. Irving will decide on a special name for her Christmas baby.

"That's something I really haven't thought about yet,'' she said. "It will obviously have to be something special.

"But I'll just look at her, see how she shapes up and then make a decision.'' A hospital spokeswoman said: "This was our only Christmas Day baby this year and we're delighted that everything went well to make somebody's Christmas.''