Essex mum thanks 'fantastic' crews after dramatic home birth

Our crews have been hailed as ‘fantastic and professional’ after delivering a baby following a dramatic home birth.

On the 20^th January, Natalie Pells was at her family home in Great Bentley, Essex when she unexpectedly went into labour. In a matter of hours, the events that unfolded were described by her sister Emma as ‘all hell breaking loose’.

Emma was initially alerted by Natalie’s four year old son, William, who very calmly and bravely called her and explained what was happening. Emma said: “William was absolutely fantastic; he called me and said that his mummy needed help.”

However after Emma’s arrival it became apparent that her sister wasn’t going to make it to hospital so called 999, and within six minutes Paramedic Dawn Howlett and Emergency Care Practitioner David Evans were on scene.

Unfortunately complications arose in labour and back-up was required, which arrived in the form of station Supervisor Jan Boreham, Paramedic Scott Dyer, and Emergency Medical Technician Sue McCloud.

Speaking of the birth Jan said: “When Natalie gave birth, her baby wasn’t breathing so we had to act quickly.”

Dawn added: “The atmosphere had changed and there was unusual tension which left us all sensing something wasn’t quite right.”

Fortunately, effective CPR from both Jan and a district midwife on scene was enough to get little Lucas breathing.

He was then conveyed to Colchester General Hospital before Natalie, who had lost a significant amount of blood after the birth. The pair stayed there in hospital for three days, before fortunately making full recoveries. 

Yesterday (9th March), Natalie’s family were able to meet crews under much happier circumstances and thank them for that day. Natalie said: “It has been great to meet the crews again and thank them, they do an amazing job and we are very grateful to them.”

She added: “It was a surreal couple of days and was strange to comprehend what had happened but fortunately these guys were on hand to do such an amazing job.”

Pictured: Scott, Dawn, Sue, Lucas and William, and Jan.

Published 10th March, 2016