Little Kohen Begg made his entrance into the world blissfully unaware of the coronavirus crisis. 

Born in the early hours of Thursday April 1, the 7lb 5oz baby was delivered by midwives at Leicester Royal Infirmary who wore full protective gear to protect themselves and pregnant women from the deadly virus. 

"It was a bit intimidating and scary at first, to be met by midwives and staff in full face masks but they quickly put us at ease," Kohen's mum Trisha, from Bagworth, said.

"It was obvious they were taking everything really seriously but they did it with real professionalism and good humour. 

"I'd worried so much before my labour about how things would be and if I was doing the right thing by going to the hospital with everything that's happening but I honestly can't thank them all enough.

"They were fantastic."

Kohen, baby brother to two-year-old Lochlan, was delivered just 40 minutes after dad Rob had rushed his wife to hospital from their Bagworth home. 

"Her labour started so I called the ward, they told us to make our way in and I asked if I'd be allowed to be there for the birth," he said. 

"It was something that had been worrying us in the build up, but because I'd not had symptoms I was told I'd be allowed to stay with her. 

"It was 1.30 in the morning, I had to pack the car up, get Lochlan out of bed and put the dog in the car so we could do a drop off at Trisha's mum's, who thankfully wasn't self isolating."

After a dramatic arrival – a knot in the umbilical cord meant that emergency medics rushed in to assist – Kohen and Trisha were transferred to St Mary's Birthing Centre in Melton. 

"It was weird just dropping them off at the door and driving away but by then he'd arrived and both mum and baby were doing well," said Rob. 

"We knew there was the staff there to look after them both."

Trisha, 30, added: "They'd thought of everything, the beds were all spaced at least 2 metres apart, your food was brought over so you didn't have to group together waiting to be served in the dining room. 

"The staff there were fantastic as well.

"One of the other mums on my ward had had to give birth without her partner there because there was no one to look after her their older children, I was really lucky that Rob could be with me."

Since returning home the day after he was born, Kohen is yet to meet his grandparents or other family. 

"We held him up to the window for my mum and dad to see when they dropped Lochlan back at home to us. 

"Rob's family are up north so they've met him over a video call.

"It is heartbreaking and I'm really missing the support of my mum, but it's for everyone's safety and we decided before we had him that we would self isolate as soon as he was born. 

"We're trying to see the positives, it's given us time to get used to a new baby in the family and let us have some time just us when there would usually have been lots of visitors."

The couple wanted to tell their story to try and help mums who are due to give birth soon feel a bit more relaxed about the idea of giving birth during the pandemic. 

Temporary changes to maternity services at Leicester's Hospitals have been made as the trust prepares to deal with patients needing treatment for Covid-19.

Trisha said: "When Boris Johnson announced the lockdown I did go into a bit of a panic, I was worried about what it would mean for me, whether Rob would be able to stay with me for the birth, whether we'd still be able to get my mum to look after Lochlan, I had so many things I was worrying about."

And Rob added: "As a dad, the thought of not being able to be there to see my baby born and to be there with Trisha was really worrying. I hated the thought of it and was just hoping that it wouldn't come to that.

"The midwife came to the house before I was due to talk it through with us and that did help a lot."

The pair agreed that they didn't need to have worried. 

"It's hard to say to someone don't worry because it is a nervous time anyway and with everything that's happening there are other concerns but the staff were just brilliant, they do all that they can in a really difficult situation and nothing is too much for them."

They also thanked the local coronavirus support community. 

"We struggled to get formula because people had stockpiled but the village support group managed to get some for us, they wiped it down and left it at the end of the driveway. People have been so kind and helpful.†

Elaine Broughton, head of midwifery at Leicester's Hospitals, said: "We understand that this may be an anxious time for women who are pregnant and are due to give birth in the coming weeks and months.