Hamilton couple speak of dramatic baby delivery

Feb 3 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Hamilton couple Gordon and Kathleen Frew speak of the drama as their baby was delivered by Gordon in the back of Kathleen’s car.

DOTING dad Gordon Frew this week spoke of his pride after delivering baby son Jamie in the back of his wife’s car.

The drama surrounding the birth of their second child was featured in last week’s Advertiser.

It began when mum-to-be Kathleen told husband Gordon in the early hours of January 25 that she felt labour pains and they headed to Wishaw General Hospital from their Torhead Farm home.

Her waters broke as they travelled down Low Waters Road, prompting a frantic phonecall to the hospital, with a midwife known only as ‘Liz’ telling Gordon that Kathleen should be stationary.

He pulled into a layby next to the Holiday Inn Express hotel on Keith Street, where he delivered 8lb 9oz Jamie, following instructions from Liz.

Paramedics then arrived to ensure that mother and son were well, and took the trio to Wishaw General, where they received a “hero’s welcome”.

Hamilton Taxi Owners’ Association (TOA) chairman Gordon (35), said: “It all happened very quickly. We left the house at 6.50am and Jamie was here by 7.10am. As we were going down Low Waters Road Kathleen’s waters broke so we were on the phone to the hospital to tell them we were trying to get there but it was apparent that we weren’t going to make it.

“Kathleen was in the back of the car and the state of play was that the ambulance wasn’t going to get there on time either, so the midwife talked us through the birth on the phone and we managed to do it from there.

“The midwife’s name was Liz and if it hadn’t been for her I don’t know how it would have gone.

“Once Jamie was born the three of us cuddled to keep him warm until paramedics arrived – how long that was, whether it was minutes or seconds I don’t know, but once they were there they were great.

“Friends and family have been saying they couldn’t have done it, but in the same circumstances I’m quite sure they would have.

“It’s one of those things that doesn’t really hit you until it’s done, and then my concern was that both Kathleen and Jamie were OK.”

Proud mum-of-two Kathleen (37) said: “On the Monday night our daughter Eva stayed with Gordon’s mum and dad, which was just out of luck.

“His mum said that it was so we could get a restful night, but it wasn’t very restful!

“I woke about 3am in the morning without much pain at all, because I was about 20 hours in labour with Eva, but I had a shower at 6am and the pain was slightly stronger so I thought we’d better get to the hospital.

“We were coming down Low Waters Road, just at the Suelise bridal shop, when my waters broke. You read in magazines that as soon as the waters break you get this almighty urge to push and that’s what I felt.

“I told Gordon and he was like [ex-F1 driver] Nigel Mansell in the front. He shouted on me to phone the midwife but as I was speaking the contractions got stronger and I was screaming, so I threw the phone away.

“Gordon finally got the phone and the midwife talked him through it. I was pushing and screaming but it all just happened so fast.”

Little four-year-old Eva Frew said: “I’m so happy to have a little brother, I’ll love him a lot when I’m older and look after him.

“Any time he’s crying he can always sleep in my bed if he’s scared – I’ll be a good big sister.”