Mum gives birth in Rotherham hospital corridor

NEW mum Andrea Rawson’s baby daughter was delivered in a hospital corridor by her mother after a last minute dash to the labour suite ended a lift ride away from medical help. The 36-year-old mum of four was just yards from Rotherham General Hos

NEW mum Andrea Rawson’s baby daughter was delivered in a hospital corridor by her mother after a last minute dash to the labour suite ended a lift ride away from medical help.

 

The 36-year-old mum of four was just yards from Rotherham General Hospital maternity unit when baby Wiesha Ada Rose decided she could wait no longer and Jacqueline Littlewood was called into action.

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Andrea had been rushed through the hospital reception in a wheelchair by stunned porter John Leedham but the moment arrived as he made a desperate attempt to call a lift.

“We got to the lift and Andrea just said ‘I’m not going to make it’,” said Jacqueline, of Rockingham.

“I took a look and I could see the baby’s forehead.

“I put my fingers under the baby’s chin, she eased out and I twisted her a little because the umbilical cord was wrapped over her shoulder. It was over in seconds.

“Andrea already has three sons and had chosen not to know the sex of the baby before the birth so I was able to look up at her and tell her it was a girl. Seeing her face was fantastic.”

Wiesha weighed in at a healthy 5lbs 12oz.

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Jacqueline rushed to Andrea’s side shortly before 9pm last Tuesday when she called to say that she was going into labour.

Andrea said: “I went into the hospital on Monday but they told me that I was in slow labour and sent me home. After that I was cautious not to go back again too soon but, in the end, I think I left it a little too late.”

Andrea’s waters broke on the driveway of her home on Derwent Road, Wingfield, as she, her partner Darren Hirst (42) and mum Jacqueline, made their way to the car.

The mum-to-be feared she would not make it to hospital in time but her mum used a favourite song to concentrate her thoughts on breathing.

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Jacqueline said: “I was singing Mamma’s Got a Squeezebox by The Who and doing the ‘in and out and in and out’ bits to help her breathe.”

When the family finally arrived at the hospital at around 9.15pm an alert porter was the only person around to help.

Andrea said: “He grabbed a wheelchair and helped us move really quickly to the lift but there just wasn’t time and Wiesha arrived there in the corridor as we waited for a lift.

“He was really supportive though and he was thrilled when the baby arrived safe and well.

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“In a way I was pleased that he was the only person around. It would have been quite embarrassing if the corridor had been packed with people.”

Jacqueline said that staff at the labour ward were stunned when Andrea arrived with her baby in her arms.

Rotherham Hospital’s head of midwifery, Karen Norton, said: “We’ve always known that our porters were great with deliveries but we didn’t expect this kind. 

 

“Midwives were on their way to Andrea but the baby couldn’t wait. We are really glad that John’s quick thinking and calm approach helped to support Andrea as she gave birth.”

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Baby Wiesha was given a traditional Polish name in honour of her great grandfather, Zenon Lewanowski, who died last November aged 83.

 

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