Published: Wednesday, 6th August, 2008 12:00
Gran turns 'midwife' and delivers for a second time
By Nicola Findlay
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Rebecca Fowell (right) was delighted to be on hand to deliver baby Cee Jay.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
A SAUCHIE gran has not only delivered her daughter’s baby – but has gone on to deliver a neighbour’s child a month later.
Rebecca Fowell’s daughter Gillian was at her mum’s house when she went into labour on 11 June and gave birth to a baby girl called Katie.
And on Thursday, Rebecca’s midwifery skills were once again put to the test when her next door neighbour’s partner, Diane Clayton, went into labour – but was told by the hospital it was too soon to go in.
Just a few hours later Rebecca delivered Diane’s baby boy, Cee Jay, on the upstairs landing with dad, Dillon Kidson, by Diane’s side.
Rebecca told the Advertiser, “I was at the birth of my eldest daughter’s baby but before Gillian I had never delivered a baby before.
“Gillian came round to my house with her partner William and when I opened the door I knew right away that she had gone into labour.
“She stood in the kitchen for a while but eventually she had to lie down on the living room floor because we knew the baby was coming.
“I didn’t panic and was quite calm through the whole thing. The paramedics came but by the time one of them went to the ambulance to get something and came back the baby’s head was already out.
“Although the paramedics were there I thought to myself that I’ve done everything this far, so there is no way I am not going to deliver the baby.
“I think natural instinct must have kicked in and at the end of the day I just had to get on with it because the baby was coming and there was nothing we could do about it.”
Rebecca said she was over the moon that she had delivered her grand-daughter safely and that little Katie was healthy.
Having delivered one baby, however, Rebecca never imagined she would be called into action again.
She had told Dillon’s mum Michelle that if Diane needed anything to give her a call – and on Thursday at about 11.40am Michelle chapped on her door to say that Diane had gone into labour.
Rebecca rushed next door with Michelle and realised that Diane didn’t have long to go and, sure enough, Cee Jay was born just after midday.
“I just tried to make Diane as comfortable as possible and thankfully she had every faith in me because she knew I had delivered Gillian’s baby.
“I was really worried when I saw the baby’s head because it was purple and he wasn’t breathing when he came out.
“I just had to tell Diane that everything was okay, but I was so relieved when he let out a little cry.”
New mum Diane said she couldn’t thank Rebecca enough for what she did and doesn’t know what she would have done without her.
“I started getting pains at about 10.30am on Thursday morning but when I phoned the hospital I was told to take a couple of paracetamol and go for a bath,” said Diane.
“But we soon realised that I wasn’t going to make it to hospital and Dillon phoned his mum at work. She came home and went and got Rebecca.
“I am just so glad she was there and that Cee Jay is now absolutely fine. If Rebecca hadn’t been in I don’t know what I would have done.”
The news of Rebecca’s newfound midwifery skills have spread and other mums-to-be in Sauchie’s Rosebank have her on stand-by.
“I have got another two booked in,” joked Rebecca.
“The first two haven’t put me off and I would do it again if I had to. I always said I would like to deliver a baby and now I can say I have delivered two.”
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