By Charlene Kelly

GLENROTHES WOMAN Lesley Hastie always knew sitting her psychology Higher was going to be hard work but she didn’t realise just how laborious the day of her exam would turn out to be.

The heavily pregnant 27-year-old Glenrothes College student was revising the night before when she started getting labour pains.

Partner James drove Lesley to Forth Park Hospital where baby son Xander came into the world at 2.40 am on June 3, weighing a healthy 8 lb.

Lesley told The Courier, “I couldn’t believe the timing. I had sat my Higher English exam and was all set for this one because I had studied really hard.

“I had it in my head that I would have the baby on my due date which was May 30, then be able to sit my exam and everything would go according to plan but Xander had other ideas!

“Unfortunately you can’t re-sit Highers but my lecturers have appealed on my behalf so there’s still a chance I might pass it.”

Lesley went on, “Because the birth happened so quick, I felt OK in the morning and was begging the midwives to let me out so I could go and sit my exam! Of course they didn’t let me, I had had stitches and it would have been too risky.”

The new mum said having Xander has been a shock to the system but she couldn’t be happier.

“His timing wasn’t ideal but of course James and I love him to bits.”

She plans to look after Xander for at least a year before embarking on a career.

Tutor Shiona Hogg said, “Lesley was one of our hardest workers. To continue with such determination, even though heavily pregnant, was a testament to her commitment to her education.”