Dion Grech was born about 15 minutes before this picture was taken and his mother, who had just had a Caesarian section, was probably too weak and elated to object to cameramen and journalists squashing into her cubicle.

Denise, now mother of two, still fitted with tubes, was presented with a potted plant by Health Minister Joe Cassar on the occasion of Mother's Day yesterday.

He toured the obstetrics wards at Mater Dei Hospital, offering flowers to women who have just become mothers. Some were still recovering from the births; others were packing up to leave for home with their new bundles of joy.

In the same ward as Dion's visibly excited parents, who were waiting to hold their son again after their first embrace, was Jaden Farrugia and his 25-year-old mother, Charlene.

Separated by a curtain, the day-old baby was screaming as he got his nappy changed by the nurse but calmed down as soon his mother held him tight.

Even the nurses - those who were mothers too - were given the potted plants by Dr Cassar, who described those who were also grandmothers as "mummies squared".