OH baby, what a Valentine’s Day surprise!
That was the delighted reaction of Edwyn and Janine Tinker-Ives when little Briony put in an appearance days earlier than expected.
And for 32-year-old Edwyn, it was a particularly anxious time: he had to act as midwife as baby Briony arrived before an ambulance crew could reach the couple’s Skelmanthorpe home.
An ambulance service operator relayed instructions down the phone to Edwyn and his mum Sue, as they helped 31-year-old Janine give birth to her second child.
It meant a Saturday morning surprise for the couple’s two-year-old son Archie, as he met his new sister for the first time – having slept through the drama of the birth, an ambulance crew arriving at the house and a visit from a midwife.
Janine, who works for a print firm in Wakefield, said: "It was such a shock. Everything in the pregnancy had gone to plan and I was due on February 19.
"I felt well on Friday and went out for a meal with friends, arriving home about 10.30pm. I went to bed but couldn’t settle, so I went downstairs to listen to some meditation tapes we had been given.
"All of a sudden, I knew something was happening. Edwyn drove over to fetch his mum Sue as she was going to look after Archie, but we never got time to get the ambulance to Barnsley hospital.
"Briony arrived without any problems, weighing in at 7lb 10oz and the midwife gave us both a clean bill of health".
Edwyn, a welder at a Milnsbridge firm, said: "It was a bit frantic but I felt so privileged.
"When Archie was born, Janine was in hospital and I stayed at the other end, mopping her brow".
The 999 emergency call was taken by Gemma Gould, call taker for Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), who gave instructions over the phone.
She said: "Dad did everything he was meant to do and stayed really calm.
"He should be very proud of the way he handled things, he followed my instructions to the letter and was really supportive to mum throughout. I am delighted for the family that everything went so well."
Pauline Lund, head of service delivery for YAS, said: "All our staff in our 999 communications centre are trained to deliver advice to callers in these circumstances so that immediate care can be provided until the ambulance arrives. Gemma did all that was asked of her and more."
in dealing with this call. She realised that time was of the essence in such a situation and quickly offered the appropriate advice and instruction. It must have been an extremely stressful situation for the family so the reassurance Gemma was able to give was invaluable."
