With five children already Sharon Fergie, from Edinburgh, was feeling calm about her upcoming delivery in March, despite the baby being six days overdue.

But when she went into labour in the early hours of March 25 she did not want to risk getting a taxi or asking for a ride from a friend due to the potential exposure to Covid-19, and also didn’t want to bother the NHS for an ambulance during a pandemic.

Her partner, Andrew Walker, was on hand to help but doesn’t drive.

So Ms Fergie drove the almost 10 miles to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI) from Silverknowes while in labour, still remaining calm.

“We got to Barnton Junction and the lights were on red so we had to stop and I thought the baby was going to pop out,” said Ms Fergie.

“Andy was just talking, trying to distract me. He was braced and ready for if we had to pull over and he had to deliver the baby.

“I think my mind just overtook my body, it’s that feeling of protecting your baby, I think I knew I had to get to hospital safely to get her delivered.

“I didn’t want to take time away from people who needed an ambulance, but looking back on it I probably was one of those people.”

Ms Fergie arrived at the ERI in time to get a car park ticket at 3.44am and rushed into the hospital, but was told to first wash her hands.

'I didn’t know what to expect in hospital': Edinburgh mum describes difficulties...

“I briefly mentioned that my baby’s head was on the way [but] safety rightly first,” she said.

The couple eventually made it to the birthing suite, where they met the midwife, who Andrew recognised as she had once worked for him as a bartender.

“They had a quick catch up and I tried to keep a baby in,” said Ms Fergie.

This didn’t work for very long.

“With Andy trying to pull my trousers off and my legs flapping about, and the midwife trying to get the other leg out and all her bits and pieces ready, less than 14 minutes after I parked the car, and with about two pushes and no pain relief, our beautiful daughter Lola was born at 3:58am,” said Ms Fergie.

Six hours after the birth and as soon as the necessary medical checks had been done, Ms Fergie drove herself, her partner and her daughter Lola Rose Walker home.

“It's all quite amusing looking back on it really,” she said.

“Sarah our midwife was amazing and we couldn't be more grateful. Six hours after Lola popping out I drove us all home and we began lockdown as a family of eight. It's definitely a story to tell her later on!”

Ms Fergie added that she was glad Lola was not her first baby, as she felt more prepared for the situation.

“I think it would have been a really terrifying time, and I feel for first time mothers,” she said.

Baby Lola has been ‘no bother at all’ during lockdown, and has been getting to know her siblings Ryan, 16; Brook, 13; Kali, 11; Arlo, 4; and Ava, 1, as well as spending time with Andrew, who is furloughed from his job as a restaurant manager.

“For us as a family it’s been really lovely, we’ve been able to do our own thing and we’ve had time we never thought we would get,” added Ms Fergie.

'She nearly popped out at Barnton Junction' - Woman drove to ERI in labour to avoid taking ambulance time during pandemic