Melksham mother gives birth in car park while dad goes for help

A COUPLE from Melksham are celebrating the birth of their daughter who was born in their car in a hospital car park. 

The birth is even more remarkable as the mother was alone when she gave birth as her husband had run into the hospital to get help.

Emma and John Farrell are both deaf and with Emma’s due date approaching she began having contractions at home one morning. John immediately called his mother over who called the hospital and relayed the advice from medical staff to Emma using sign language. Emma and John drove to Bath’s RUH hospital whilst John’s mother looked after the couple’s other children.

On the way to hospital Emma’s contractions became closer and on arrival, John ran into the hospital to get help but as his  speech isn’t clear he struggled to get the message across. Eventually, a nurse followed him out to his car where he found Emma had given birth to baby Sara in the few minutes he had left her.

John said, “It was scary on the way to hospital as I could see Emma was in a lot of pain. I knew we had to get to hospital as soon as possible. I don’t think I’ve ever driven so fast in my life! When we got there I ran in but the staff didn’t understand me and I was crying with worry. Then when we got outside and saw Emma and my new-born I was crying because I missed it! I am so proud of Emma for going through the birth alone and for being so brave.”

Emma said, “I was in a lot of pain and knew I wasn’t far away from giving birth. I just did what I had to do, I didn’t think about it too much and just got on with it. The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck and I was worried about that, but thankfully she is ok and is healthy.”

The couple have had a double celebration following the birth of daughter Sara as they also got married last weekend.