Mother gave birth unexpectedly in the parking lot of a DIY store
A mother has shared her story of unexpectedly giving birth in the car park of her local B&Q.
Laura Moore, 26, from Cannock, Staffordshire had hoped to welcome her baby in a quiet home birth, but when her blood pressure started to rise during contractions on October 21 early This year, she was advised to go straight to the hospital.
The design firm assistant and her fiance, Dan Coppinger, also 26, were on their way to the maternity ward 12 miles away when, just minutes from home, the expectant mother had an overwhelming urge. level to promote.
“We hadn’t left home long and suddenly something changed and I felt the need to push,” Moore explains.
“I shouted to Dan to pull over, but at first he didn’t think I was serious and said we should continue to the hospital.”
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But, when he realized his partner wasn’t joking, Coppinger, frantically searched for somewhere safe to stop.
“When he pulled into the store parking lot, I thought, I can’t do this here, I’m not going to give birth in the parking lot in my Ford Focus!” Moore said.
“Nhưng đứa con của chúng tôi không cho tôi một sự lựa chọn.”
Nhanh chóng nắm bắt được tính cấp bách của tình hình, Coppinger nhận ra đứa con thứ hai của mình sẽ không chờ đợi và anh sẽ phải tự mình sinh con bên ngoài cửa hàng DIY.
“Dan called an ambulance and they told him to check for baby’s head,” Moore continues.
“We had car seats in the back of our car, so I couldn’t lie down and had to stay in the passenger seat.
“With my son I had an epidural in hospital, but this time my body just took over and I knew it was time.”
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The teenage sweethearts, who met at school and have been engaged since 2018, also have a son, William aged two.
She adds: “Dan was on the phone to the ambulance and managed to get towels and blankets out of my hospital bags.
“He was at William’s birth, but this time he was much more hands on with the delivery.”
Seconds before Millie-Rose Coppinger was born, two ambulances and community midwives arrived and the newborn was safely delivered at 7.16am.
The couple had chosen not to find out the gender before the birth so it was a double surprise for everyone.
Moore had arranged for her sister-in-law to watch their toddler and once safely in hospital, Coppinger, a senior graphic designer, called the family to share their news and announce they had welcomed a healthy daughter.
“Our families couldn’t believe it when we told them we didn’t make it to the hospital,” Moore adds. “They were so shocked when we told them where she was born.”
Reflecting on her daughter’s dramatic arrival, Moore says: “I’m pretty easy going and never had birth plan that was set in stone as I know things can change, but it certainly wasn’t the birth I had hoped for.
“When I said I wanted pictures of my labour, I didn’t mean store CCTV,” she jokes.
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While she was disappointed not to have a water birth at home, ultimately Moore is grateful her daughter arrived safely.
“We had the pool set up ready but when the midwives told me my blood pressure was too high, I knew it was safest for me to go to hospital, well try to,” she says.
Her arrival, two days early, may have been a little dramatic, but Millie-Rose has since settled in well at home.
“She is three weeks old now and we can’t remember life without her,” Moore adds.
Additional reporting Caters.