Dad has his hands full delivering baby in van

Published on Saturday 27 September 2008 10:57

A FATHER rushing his pregnant wife to hospital ended up having to deliver his baby daughter at the side of a busy roundabout.

Trevor Mackay was driving wife Christine to St John's Hospital in Livingston in his works van when baby Abbie decided she couldn't wait to make her appearance.

He was forced to pull over and take matters into his own hands at the Boghall Roundabout in Bathgate, just after midnight on Tuesday morning.

"It was an incredible experience," said the 34-year-old. "I was panicking at the time but I can't describe the feeling of delivering my own baby. It's amazing. Not many men get that opportunity.

"It was very stressful for both of us at the time. It was like any other labour because we were shouting and swearing at each other, but we're so happy that there were no complications."

The roundabout delivery was the culmination of a series of dramas for Mr Mackay and his wife when she went into labour.

After phoning the hospital when her contractions started at around 6pm on Monday, Mrs Mackay was told to take a bath.

When Mr Mackay tried to get her out of the bath shortly afterwards, she could not move and ended up stuck.

He tried to call 999 from his mobile phone, but could not get a signal. He eventually managed to get her out at around 11pm and it took another hour to finally get her in the van for the journey to the hospital.

The couple made it from their Falside home at the west end of the town to Bathgate Academy

when Mrs Mackay screamed for her husband to stop as she felt Abbie, who was three days overdue, pushing her way out.

Mr Mackay pulled over into the Boghall junction of the roundabout where a few more cross words were spoken as he tried to free his wife's leg, which had somehow become stuck by the gear stick.

He said: "Literally seconds after that, the baby came out. It was very fast. Christine did all the hard work and I just caught Abbie coming out.

"I had to pull some gunk out of her mouth, but other than that she was absolutely fine and beautiful and I wrapped her in a bath robe.

"I dialled 999 and the lady, Tracey I think her name was, talked me through everything. I'd like to thank her for that.

"I was so caught up in the moment I didn't even think to check if it was a boy or a girl until Tracey asked me what it was.

"The ambulance crew were brilliant too and came about 15 minutes later, but it seemed like a lifetime. That's when I got to cut the cord."

Abbie weighed a healthy 6lbs 12oz and is a sister for Leia, aged six. Mother and daughter were discharged later on Tuesday.

Finance worker Mrs Mackay was also overjoyed at the birth, but not so much with the venue.

She said:

"The bath was very bad for me and the van was so uncomfortable. I was mortified. It is quite hilarious now I suppose, but looking back at the time it wasn't that funny, especially at a roundabout of all places."

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We are absolutely delighted that mother and baby are fine and wish them all the best."