Shanna and Reece Ahwang welcome their Christmas Day baby Anahlia Rae

A blessed Bakers Creek mum and dad had a welcome Christmas surprise when their fourth daughter decided to come into the world early on Christmas Day. Read the heartwarming story.

A Bakers Creek family had their Christmas Day plans take a drastic turn when nine-month pregnant Shanna Ahwang woke at midnight on Christmas Eve and knew her little bundle wanted to make a move.

Her husband Reece Ahwang stayed up with her through the night before helping her to the car at 5am on Christmas Day.

The pair said it was an anxious drive to Mackay Base Hospital with pouring rain and a baby very eager to make her entrance into the world.

Shanna and Reece Ahwang welcome their daughter Anahlia Rae Ahwang into the world on Christmas Day at Mackay Base Hospital, December 25, 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

“I was sitting and thinking, ‘don’t push this baby out in the car’,” Mrs Ahwang said.

The pair finally made it to the hospital and after another eight hours of labour they welcomed their newest daughter Anahlia Rae Ahwang into their family.

Little Anahlia was born at 12.43pm on Christmas Day, weighing 3.26kg (7.2 pounds) and measuring 51.5cm.

The couple picked the name Anahlia because they loved it, but their youngest daughter’s middle name was an ode to Mrs Ahwang’s father Rae, which was also her sisters middle name. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mr and Mrs Ahwang hoped to bring Anahlia home that night to celebrate Christmas with her three older sisters Jaydah, 9, Laniah, 2, and Milahni, 1.

“It hadn’t really sunk in that it was Christmas Day until we Facetimed the girls,” Mrs Ahwang said.

Mrs Ahwang said when she showed her daughters their new sister she was greeted with hilarious mixed responses.

“The oldest one, she was sassy, but she was so excited to see [Anahlia],” she said.

“But the one year old — her face was just saying ‘you’re not bringing that home’.”

Shanna Ahwang welcomes her daughter Anahlia Rae Ahwang into the world on Christmas Day at Mackay Base Hospital, December 25, 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mr Ahwang works as a trades assistant but had taken the next month off to be at home with his young family.

“I’m pretty keen to raise all these little chicks,” Mr Ahwang said.

“We’ve got half a netball team here now.”

Raising four children with three under two years old is no easy feat, but the Ahwangs say it all comes down to teamwork.

Mr Ahwang said he had been a “hands on dad from the get go”.

‘To have this many kids you really need to be a team, we share the load’. Lillian Watkins

“Shanna is a really hands on mum, so we’re a good team. A really good team,” Mr Ahwang said.

“To have this many kids you really need to be a team, we share the load.”

The pair said their favourite time of the day was when the children went to sleep for the night and they were able to simply share a tea and coffee together.

But both were delighted a their Christmas surprise and couldn’t wait to get home and watch their family connect.

“I’m happy we had a Christmas Day baby, it’s special, it’s always going to be special,” Mr Ahwang said.