When her daughter was born with two front teeth, Samantha Lines was astonished – and rather nervous.
For she is concerned about whether little Ella-Rose’s teeth will cause problems during breastfeeding.
Most babies are born toothless and do not begin teething until they are at least six months old. But Ella-Rose stunned medical staff when she was born, weighing 5lb 10oz (about 2.5kg), with two perfectly formed incisors in her lower jaw.
Miss Lines, 29, gave birth by caesarean section earlier this month. She has started breastfeeding her daughter but revealed: "I must admit I’m nervous about breastfeeding Ella-Rose.
"But her teeth are only small. I’ve got bottles in case it is too difficult but it seems fine at the moment."
Miss Lines, of Rugby, Warwickshire, said her daughter’s early teeth are so rare that she cannot find advice on whether she needs to brush them. Describing Ella-Rose’s birth at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, she said: "I was completely delirious with morphine and other painkillers. Suddenly a midwife said my baby had two front teeth.
"Everyone was telling me how amazing it was that my baby had front teeth, but I had very little idea of how rare that is.
"It wasn’t until I came to and somebody told me that it actually sunk in that this was such a unique thing."
Miss Lines and Ella-Rose were discharged from hospital four days after her caesarean. She has been warned by doctors that her baby’s teeth could become a choking hazard, and to monitor them in case they become loose.
"I’m not even sure whether or not I should be brushing them or not,’ she said. It’s just something extra to deal with on top of everything else. You’re trying to learn everything when you’re a new mum, but I need more guidance."
Bar manager Miss Lines and her partner, driver Jason Doombs, 42, had Ella-Rose after fertility treatment.She said: "We call Ella-Rose our 'little lucky baby'."