Bus stop drama mum gives birth in car front seat

WITH her two young children waiting at home, an expectant mother believed she had "plenty of time" to get to hospital to deliver her third youngster after going into labour.

But Lynette McGrorty discovered the newest addition to the family was unwilling to wait as her baby boy was born in the front seat of their Mitsubishi Warrior.

The 33-year-old was being driven through Bathgate town centre by her husband, Alex, when she realised there was no time to complete the journey to St John's Hospital in Livingston.

Pulling up beside a bus stop, the couple soon welcomed baby Fynn into the world before paramedics could arrive.

Mrs McGrorty believed there was no rush when she felt her labour start at about 4.30am and she waited patiently for her parents to arrive to look after the other children.

But just over an hour later, the car was forced to stop when her waters broke and her son was born only minutes later.

Mrs McGrorty, of Falside Drive in Bathgate, said: "I was having cramp at about 2.30am but that had been happening for a couple of days. Then I thought I was having Braxton Hicks contractions, which are just to get you ready.

"By about 4.30am I realised I was definitely in labour, so I phoned my mum and dad to come and stay in the house while we went to the hospital. We also phoned the hospital to say we were coming in.

"We left in the car at 5.30am but we only made it as far as the bus stop on King Street when my waters broke."

Mr McGrorty pulled over and retrieved towels and blankets from her overnight bag and phoned for an ambulance.

Mrs McGrorty said: "It was only two minutes after my waters broke that Fynn appeared while I was still sitting in the front seat."

A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived and mother and baby were taken to hospital, where they were given a clean bill of health by doctors after being kept in overnight.

The couple, who already had son, Jack, six, and daughter, Amy, three, were both delighted by Fynn's safe arrival in the early hours of last Friday.

Mrs McGrorty added: "My son thinks it's great that Fynn was born in the car. He thinks that's much more interesting and exciting than having a new baby brother."