Samantha Cameron gives birth to baby girl while on holiday

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Samantha Cameron gave birth to a girl today while the family were on holiday in Cornwall.

The Prime Minister and his 39-year-old wife were driven by car to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro at 8am after she woke with contractions.

At around midday the 6lb 1oz baby was delivered two weeks early by Caesarean section. Downing Street said the girl, whose name has yet to be announced, and her mother were "doing very well".

The Prime Minister said his new daughter was "unbelievably beautiful" and that his other two children were "thrilled, bouncing up and down, and dying to say hello to the new baby".

He added: "It was very exciting, we were on holiday, thought we were going to get through the holiday and then have a baby, and then it just seemed to kick off a bit quickly.

"They seemed to be doing fine and my job was to make the toast and the tea, things like that, but it's absolutely thrilling, really exciting and it's just lovely they are both doing so well."

The Camerons had been staying in a rented house with friends. Their other children, Nancy, six, and Arthur Elwen, four, stayed at their friends' home. Their first child, Ivan, who was profoundly disabled, died aged six last year.

The couple had several "scares" in recent days when they thought the baby was about to arrive. "They are both thrilled and happy that everything is okay," said a friend. "There was no emergency, everything was calm and they were delighted with the care they received."

Mr Cameron said the early birth had been "a bit of a shock".

"I always thought it was possible because Samantha's have tended to come a bit early. She had been having contractions for the last couple of days on and off and just sort of thought this was time to come to the hospital and check out, see if everything was fine, and the next thing we knew we were all getting into the gear and baby was coming out."

Mrs Cameron is expected to spend a night or two in hospital and they will then decide how soon to return to London. Mr Cameron, 43, is planning to take paternity leave of at least a week from his duties but he has not yet decided on the timing. Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said: "Miriam and I are absolutely delighted by the news. All our best wishes are with David and Samantha at this very special time for them and their family."

Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron are delighted to announce the birth of their fourth child, a baby girl.

"Both the baby and Mrs Cameron are doing very well. The PM and Mrs Cameron would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the hospital for their help and kindness."

After the death of Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, Mr Cameron revealed that he and Samantha wanted another child in addition to Nancy and Arthur Elwen and that he felt "broody".

This month he spoke of their impatience, saying: "We are getting quite close to baby time so we are beginning to get to that stage of it's a bit hot' and I'm a bit bothered' and can we get on with it?'"

News of the impending baby was announced shortly before the general election and Mrs Cameron's bump was showing as the couple campaigned across the country. It is only the second time a serving prime minister has had a baby in recent memory, coming after Tony and Cherie Blair had their fourth child, Leo, who was reputed to have been conceived at Balmoral.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes were today taking bets on the new baby's name. Favourites included Hazel with odds of 25/1, Margaret also at 25/1 and Harriet at 66/1.

Other possibles are Mr Cameron's mother's name, Mary, or Samantha's middle name, Gwendoline.

Mr Cameron said he was "in for suggestions" for names with a Cornish link.

"It was very exciting having a baby in Cornwall, we'll have to have something Cornish in there somewhere.

"I've got the book out, Samantha's having a look through and she'll decide, I'm sure, before long."

Tamara was suggested - a reference to the River Tamar which forms Cornwall's border with Devon. "Well obviously we're the right side of the Tamar, that's right," said the Prime Minister.

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