Three-time Olympian Jo Pavey experienced another notable event this week – by becoming a mother for the first time.

To the delight of the Bristol & West Athletic Club life member, who celebrates her 36th birthday tomorrow, and her husband Gavin, baby Jacob Matthew Pavey arrived nine days ahead of the expected birth date, weighing in at 5lbs 9oz.

"Gav and I are so thrilled and excited to be parents. I know all parents say the same thing but I think he is gorgeous, a beautiful baby", said a proud Jo.

The Great Britain international athlete, a former student at the University of West of England, went into labour on Monday and was taken into Kingston upon Thames maternity unit near the couple's London home.

Doctors then discovered that during contractions the baby's heart rate would drop a bit and then return to normal. It was felt that the baby would be under too much stress to proceed any further with natural labour.

"My intention all along was to have a natural birth but the doctors decided it would be best for me to have a caesarean," explained Jo.

"The staff were amazing and they reacted so quickly and efficiently when the problem was detected."

Gavin admitted it was a tense time and also paid his tribute to the NHS staff.

"It seemed a bit touch and go for a while," said Gavin. "Suddenly we had 15 staff around Jo in the delivery suite and within five minutes she was holding baby Jacob."

The couple said they were looking forward to visiting Bristol to show off Jacob to all their friends and former clubmates.

Jo took part in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics and is aiming to make it four in a row in London, when she plans to step up to the marathon.

She was the silver medallist in the 5,000m at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.