A firefighting couple has relied on their on-the-job experience to deliver their own baby in the car park of a Hunter Valley fast food restaurant.
Pregnant Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Communication Centre Operator, Samantha Paul, was four days overdue when she started going into labor at her Nelson Bay home.
Her partner, FRNSW Senior Firefighter, Elizabeth Paul, immediately placed her into their car and began the hour-long journey to Belmont Midwifery Group Practice.
NSW Ambulance
The couple was advised by their midwife to pull over and prepare for an imminent birth
Samantha’s water broke about 500 metres from home, and, approximately 10 minutes into the drive, her contractions began to increase in frequency and intensity.
The couple was advised by their midwife to pull over and prepare for an imminent birth.
They stopped in at the carpark of the fast food restaurant at Williamtown and alerted NSW Ambulance, which dispatched a crew to assist with the safe delivery of the baby. However, their precious new daughter, Andy, didn’t want to wait any longer, making a grand entrance to the world before paramedics could arrive on-scene.
Precautionary checks
The newborn and her parents were later transported to the hospital for precautionary checks and, within hours, given a clean bill of health.
Andy weighed in at a healthy 3.8 kilograms and was 53 centimetres long. Samantha and Elizabeth believe their careers as FRNSW firefighters helped get them through what was an exciting but nerve-wracking occasion.
Stressful situations
“Leading into the birth, I think we both went into work mode, because we’re used to dealing with dramatic and stressful situations,” Elizabeth said. “I feel like we just drew on experience from that.”
“In many ways it was similar to turning up to a house fire, where you just deal with what’s in front of you and do the best you can.”
Andy is now settling in well to home life with her big brother, two-year-old Luka. “We’re so relieved to have such a gorgeous and healthy baby girl in our arms, despite the challenges Andy decided to throw our way early on,” Samantha said. “This whole episode will sure make for a great story to tell as Andy gets older!”
