Giving birth in a car park's nothing, I did it in the grocery van!

Published on Saturday 15 November 2008 10:04

IT is perfectly normal for families to pass on traditions through the generations.

But instead of handing down heirlooms and behavioural traits, one north Edinburgh family seems to be inheriting childbirth tactics from elder relatives.

The Evening News revealed earlier this week how a mother gave birth to a baby in the ERI car park after roadworks delayed the family's emergency dash. Little Kevin, named after his father Kevin Hutton, was brought into the world entirely healthy and with no complications despite a frantic dash across the city and being delivered in the back of a Vauxhall Astra.

But one family member who hasn't been moved by the ordeal is the baby's great-grandmother Elizabeth Duncan.

She was quick to remind her granddaughter Tammy Duncan, 23 – who went through the ordeal last Friday – that she wasn't the only family member to experience such a birth.

In 1958, the 71-year-old, who lives in Pilton, was forced to have her second son Derek, Tammy's uncle, in the back of a grocery van belonging to the family business while doing her shopping.

A family friend said: "Just before leaving the house on Friday, Elizabeth had joked with her granddaughter that if she didn't get her skates on, history would be repeating itself."

Speaking after the baby returned home soon after the unusual birth, Mrs Duncan said: "I must confess I cried tears of joy when I finally met my latest great-grandson for the first time.

"Tammy and Kevin are wonderful parents. Little Kevin is my ninth great-grandchild and I am over the moon."

The couple were at home in Pilton when Tammy's contractions began. After phoning the hospital they were told to wait until they intensified.

When they did embark on the journey, they found the traffic situation so bad they were forced to work across the east of the city, where they also discovered road works had closed off key routes.

They were able to keep in touch with the hospital by phone and midwives and their assistants were waiting with towels and other devices.

There were attempts to coax Tammy from the car, but she felt it was too far gone and the birth took place in the car park, with stunned passers-by and other staff members looking on.