Paramedic helped deliver roadside baby – on first shift

A YOUNG paramedic has been praised after she helped deliver a baby at the side of the road during her first shift.

As reported in last week’s UH, Declan and Gemma-Louise Molloy from outside Ballygawley dramatically welcomed their third child, Leo, into the world on the roadside during the early hours of a freezing morning.

Despite the couple’s best attempt to get to South West Acute Hospital on time, the baby wasn’t waiting around and they had to pull over at Fivemiletown Mart where proud father Declan delivered his new born baby son in the passenger seat of the couple’s car.

Declan and Gemma were helped throughout the ordeal by newly qualified Laura Maxwell, who had picked up their urgent call in the Ambulance Service’s Emergency Control Room.

Laura gave Declan clear instructions, including how to untangle the umbilical cord and to remove his shoe lace and tie the umbilical cord with it.

Baby Leo was born at 12.10am on Monday, December 7 weighing a healthy 7lb 14oz.

Mother and son have been doing really well and the Molloy family are very appreciative of Laura and her mentor Kelly Burns for the calm way they handled the situation while they waited on the roadside until the ambulance crew arrived and took over.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service explained that Laura had only dealt with ten calls before picking up the phone to Declan.

“Expertly mentored by Kelly Burns, Laura gave clear and concise instructions to help deliver baby Leo and to ensure that everything was done correctly immediately after the birth.

“The initial nervousness, anxiety and excitement and the experiences of her first ten calls had all led to this moment for Laura – a moment I am sure she will treasure throughout all the years we hope she spends with us.

“A huge well done to Laura and to Kelly and indeed to the everyone in the control room, as everything really is a team effort in there.”