A NURSERY nurse who was terrified she would give birth during her GCSE English exam is celebrating her A grade with baby daughter Holly.
Caroline Bell, 24, of Platts Lane, Tarvin, gave birth just days after the exam – during which Holly was indicating her arrival was imminent.
In a move to achieve her ambition to become a primary school teacher, Caroline decided to improve her GCSE English grade.
But when Caroline headed to West Cheshire College to complete the year-long course, little did she know she would be sitting her exams when she was eight and half months pregnant.
She said: “I found out I was pregnant in October and that was after I had started my course, so I just decided to keep going.”
Caroline, who also has a four-year-old son, Josh, said it was very tiring juggling the classes at the college one night a week, working as a nursery nurse at Bunnies day nursery, being a full-time mum and preparing for her new baby.
Her exam was one week before her due date and she said she was terrified she was going to go into labour.
“I think everybody was a little concerned it would happen during the exam,” she said. “It was difficult to concentrate because she was moving about all the time.
“One of my friends was quite concerned that I would go into labour – she kept looking to check I was OK and they were all prepared to rush me out.”
Luckily, Caroline managed to complete her exam – and two weeks later, she gave birth to her baby.
Caroline said: “I am sure she will be really good at English because we did so much studying together.
“I was so nervous about what I would get. I was absolutely over the moon to have got an A.
“My tutor, Diane Ireland, was a fantastic help and really supported me throughout my GCSE.”
Caroline’s boyfriend and the children’s father, Adam Baxendale, is currently completing his teaching qualifications and she plans to start hers soon after. She has more nerves this week as Josh will start his first day at Tarvin Primary School.
