Megan joins sugar babe battle

Mother Kerry Forster read with interest this week's Express & Star report about the first day at nursery of little Keira Hodgetts, of Tipton, who was just 1lb 15oz when she was born three years ago.

The story was followed up the next day by a picture of miracle baby Taylor Southall, of West Bromwich, who was celebrating his first birthday after tipping the scales at Sandwell Hospital last year at an amazing 1lb 14oz.

Now Kerry, of West bromwich, has upped the stakes, revealing daughter Megan was just 1lb 13oz when she was born - and her dad Robert was only 1lb 12 oz when he entered the world 34 years earlier.

Nor does their remarkable story end there. In January Kerry produced twins Leah and Bethany, weighing 2lb 12oz and 2lb 3oz respectively.

"I think it's something in the genes," said 27-year-old Kerry, of Lincloln Road, although Robert has three children with a previous partner and none of them was particularly small.

She added: "When Megan was born, I didn't want any publicity as I was feeling so exhausted but now I'm very proud of my own little miracle.

"When I read about the other two babies, I wanted to set the record straight.

"Megan was born by Caesarian 11 weeks early because I was suffering from pre-eclampsia and it was touch and go for a while whether she would survive.

"She was the first baby born under 30 weeks at Sandwell Hospital and had to be kept in the neo-natal unit for seven weeks before we could bring her home.

"To look at her now, you'd never think she was once a 'sugar bag' baby."

Last week Megan started nursery at Moorlands Primary and Kerry said: "She loves it.

"She's as bright as a button."

By Marion Brennan