Birth of Leena Kristiina Heikki née Mäkinen

Leena Mäkinen was born at 06:28 at Helsinki Central Hospital, the first child of Mikko Mäkinen and Helena Mäkinen (née Lahtinen). Helena had gone into labour shortly after midnight, and the couple came in by taxi from their flat in Kallio in the small hours, Mikko carrying the bag Helena had packed a fortnight earlier.

The labour progressed steadily through the night under the care of midwife Tuula Leppänen. Dr Riitta Korhonen, the obstetrician on duty, joined them towards dawn as the contractions strengthened and remained in the room through the final stage. There were no complications at any point.

Leena was delivered at 06:28 and cried at once. Tuula weighed her at 3.41 kilograms, checked her colour and breathing, and laid her on Helena's chest within minutes. The name had been settled weeks before, and Helena spoke it aloud before anyone in the room had thought to ask.

Mikko spent much of the night unsure where to put himself, moving between the window and the bedside, and was twice asked by Tuula to sit down. He held his daughter for the first time shortly after seven, once the paperwork had been completed and the staff had left the family alone. He was twenty-seven; Helena was twenty-six.

The birth was entered in the ward register as uncomplicated. By mid-morning the delivery room had been cleaned and made ready for the next mother.