Cessnock mum Hayley White has praised the efforts of two paramedics who helped deliver her son William at home.
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On September 29, Ms White was eight days overdue and booked in to be induced at John Hunter Hospital the following day when William decided to make his arrival.
After two days of pre-contractions, Ms White said she started having real contractions on the third day and called the hospital, but was told to wait until her contractions were five minutes apart.
“They never got any closer than 10 minutes,” she said.
Ms White said the contractions weren’t as strong as with her daughter Kaitlyn (a nine-hour labour), but she had been throwing up all day and it had become unbearable.
“The midwife told me to have a shower and a nap, but after I had a shower my water broke; I felt him drop, I felt a lot of pressure straight away,” she said.
“I felt like I had to push.
“There was no way I was making it to the car; I went and laid on the bed and mum called the ambulance.”
By the time the paramedics arrived – less than 10 minutes later – William was crowning.
The home delivery was a first for the young female paramedic. Her male colleague had delivered other babies during his career.
William’s father Doug Blanch arrived in time to cut the umbilical cord.
The ambulance took them to hospital and Ms White lost a litre-and-a-half of blood on the way as she birthed the placenta.
While the mother and baby are now doing well, Ms White said William’s quick arrival highlighted the need for maternity services in Cessnock.
Cessnock Hospital’s maternity ward closed in 2003, due to a declining rate of deliveries at the hospital at the time.
Most women were choosing to have their babies out of town, and the hospital was struggling to attract an adequate number of midwives.
But Ms White says in 2015, in a growing town like Cessnock, you should be able to give birth at the local hospital.
“The closest hospital (with a maternity ward) is 30 minutes away, but you can’t always wait,” she said.
“They’re trying to make Cessnock a bigger place with more houses and shops, but there’s no maternity ward.
“There should be something closer.
“What if something went wrong?”
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Have you or someone you know recently had a similar experience to Hayley?
Email krystal.sellars@fairfaxmedia.com.au to share your story.
