Published: Wednesday, 16th January, 2008 12:30
Baby born in back of dad's car
By Nicola Findlay
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Happy family: Mum Lindsay, dad Alan and big brother Darren are delighted with the safe arrival of baby Ashley – even if it was at the side of the road!
Pic by: David Robertson
A BABY girl made a dramatic entrance into the world when she was delivered at the roadside by her dad and a paramedic.
Lindsay Gordon was on her way to Stirling Royal Infirmary on Wednesday morning with partner Alan Fyfe.
But the Menstrie couple had to pull over on the Tullibody Bypass – where Lindsay gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who they named Ashley Janet Fyfe.
Despite having 25 years experience with the ambulance service, the birth was a first for paramedic John Hopkins, who delivered the tot in the back of her dad’s car along with his colleague David Drysdale.
Lindsay, who was a week overdue, went into labour at around 5am and eventually woke Alan just after 7am before heading to the hospital.
However, the couple didn’t expect the birth to be as quick and were also caught in traffic congestion.
“When I woke Alan up at 7am my contractions were five minutes apart and I thought I had plenty of time,” Lindsay told the Advertiser. “But we didn’t realise the traffic would be so bad and my contractions got closer together very quickly.
“We phoned the hospital at about 7.15am to tell them we were on our way but 15 minutes later Ashley was born in the back of the car.
“I was shouting and screaming at Alan to pull over and call an ambulance but he was brilliant and didn’t panic at all.
“I never imagined for a minute I would have her in the back of the car.
She took 11 minutes longer than our first child, Darren, but at least I made it to the hospital with him!”
Despite it becoming clear that Lindsay wasn’t going to make it to hospital, Alan remained composed and did his best to keep her as calm as possible.
The traffic chaos delayed the arrival of the ambulance, so Alan stepped into the breach until the paramedics arrived.
“I was fine and I just had to try to keep Lindsay as relaxed and calm as possible,” said Alan.
“No one believed me when I told them what happened. One of our friends even drove past and saw us at the side of the road and phoned, jokingly asking ‘was that Lindsay having the baby in the car?’
“He was gob-smacked when I said yes it was.
“Thankfully, I managed to get the car cleaned that morning as I run my own valeting company!”
Ironically, once they reached the hospital, they found that there was medical expertise closer than they thought, as only a few cars behind them there were three midwives on their way to Stirling Royal Infirmary!
When paramedics John and David finally made it through the traffic, Ashley was just a couple of minutes from making her entrance into the world.
John said, “When we arrived David got the maternity pack out of the ambulance straight away, but by that time the baby’s head had already delivered and then within seconds the rest of her delivered.
“I have been in the ambulance service for 25 years and this is the first baby I have delivered myself.
“I certainly won’t forget this call in a hurry – it is one of the nicest I have ever had to deal with.”
While mum and baby were rushed to hospital in the ambulance, Alan had to endure an hour-long journey, crawling through the traffic.
Although the birth wasn’t quite what the couple had planned they say the whole family is over the moon with the new arrival.
Lindsay added, “The main thing is that she is here and healthy, but I don’t know how I would have coped without Alan and the paramedics, who were absolutely brilliant.
“We would like to say a big thank you to them.”
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