PREGNANT Lauren Conte dressed up as the Virgin Mary to give her family a laugh on Christmas Day — then gave birth when her baby arrived early.
The GP receptionist, 33, was decked out in a £20 biblical outfit from Amazon when she went into labour at her parents’ home in Peterborough, Cambs.
![I was eight months pregnant and dressed up as Virgin Mary on Christmas Day for a laugh – I gave birth hours later I was eight months pregnant and dressed up as Virgin Mary on Christmas Day for a laugh – I gave birth hours later](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pattinson-rob-via-sun-picture-786446287.jpg?strip=all&w=749)
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She gave birth to her son Joshua Joseph[/caption]
Shocked Lauren, who named her son Joshua Joseph, said: “We were all joking the baby would come on Christmas Day, but there was no way I expected it to happen. Talk about tempting fate.”
“I’m just relieved he came after Christmas lunch — it would have been a disaster if I’d missed the pigs in blankets.”
When she and husband Luke, 37, arrived at her parents’ house they were greeted by a sign on the door reading “Bethlehem Travelodge, no vacancies”.
Mum and dad John and Theresa Linskey, both 67, jokingly told the pair there was “no room at the inn”.
After a day of festive fun, Lauren’s waters broke at 9.30pm.
Joshua Joseph — the couple’s first child — was eventually born at 5.30pm on Boxing Day, weighing 8lb 3oz.
Lauren said: “We’ve got a bit of a sense of humour in our family so after I saw the outfit for sale I had to do it.
“I always wanted to be Mary but never managed it in the nativity, so I knew this was my chance.
“When my dad saw me dressed as Mary he just fell about laughing and ushered me into the garden because mum and sister were cooking.
“When they saw me through the back door they saw me and started wetting themselves,
“They had actually planned to put straw out in the conservatory but we didn’t get a chance.
“It’s just hilarious — it had to happen that way. It’s rare to have your first one early. Maybe all the laughing and mucking about we did brought it on.
“You’ve got to seize the moment — you can’t not be dressed as Virgin Mary at Christmas when you’re expecting a baby. We’re not particularly religious — but this must have been an act of God.
“Hopefully the next one is not due at Easter, otherwise I’ll have to dress up as a rabbit — or an egg.”
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/lauren-conte-baby-joshua-joseph-786456624.jpg?strip=all&w=774)
Hubby Luke, a classic car restorer, said ‘I thought it was great’[/caption]
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Hubby Luke, a classic car restorer, said: “I thought it was great. I wish I’d got dressed up as Joseph but Joseph outfits are much more expensive.
“Maybe we should have gone for a dressing gown and tea towel.”