I had a baby this week, well not be personally, but I helped deliver one over the phone to a slightly shocked but delighted father.
When the call came through the father managed to get his address out before suddenly announcing that his girlfriend was pregnant and the baby’s head was out.
I have never delivered a baby before either on the phone or in person, and while you can train for it all you want, nothing prepares you for when it actually happens.
I managed to keep myself together and managed to give the opening instructions for the delivery, then the father said the baby had the cord wrapped around its neck and was looking blue.
Again instructions were given and the mother herself managed to loosen the cord and gently pull it over the baby’s head. unfortunately the baby still wasn’t making the noises you want it to.
Again instructions were given and soon followed the sound of a healthy pair of lungs. The sound of relief for the father could be heard across the room.
Mother and baby were duly wrapped up and kept warm and the RRV arrived on scene with out much work to do.. The paramedic found a stunned father a proud grandmother and a tired mother and healthy baby girl on scene.
After a week in which I took a call from a mother whos daughter was found unconcious in her bedroom and sadly didn’t make it, it was nice to get the other side of the job, the happy side.
