Woman gave birth to baby on bridge
New parents describe shock as mum went into labour in ambulance as it crossed the Mersey Gateway:
AFIRST-TIME Runcorn mum and paramedics were caught by surprise when she gave birth to her daughter in the middle of the Mersey Gateway bridge.
Six-day-old Opal McPoland Siebert was born 11 weeks premature on July 18.
Caroline McPoland, 33, and her husband, Andy Siebert, 34, from Halton Village, are currently staying in Liverpool Women’s Hospital while baby Opal is on the neonatal intensive care ward.
Caroline said: “We were minding our own business watching Hamilton on Saturday night and I went up to bed for a read because I felt a bit uncomfortable.
“Next thing you know my waters had broken and we had to ring 999.”
Caroline phoned her husband who was downstairs playing Call Of Duty on his Playstation at the time to tell him the baby was on the way.
An ambulance arrived quickly to take her to Whiston Hospital with Andy following in his car.
It wasn’t long after Caroline was put in the ambulance and they set off that things became more urgent.
She said: “The contractions kept getting quicker and I was like no, I’m going to have go push here. I literally had no choice.
“Luckily they had two paramedic cars following us. We stopped and they got on the ambulance and then another ambulance came.
“It was all a bit hairy really, she wasn’t breathing when she was born so there were various people in and out of the ambulance.
“As they opened the doors to the ambulance I could see right out onto the bridge.
“As soon as they got her breathing it was blue lights straight to the hospital.”
Husband Andy had already arrived at Whiston and was expecting to meet his wife and be taken to the delivery room.
He said: “All the way there I couldn’t see them behind me. When I got up to the hospital I happened to see someone going up to the ward.
“I said I’m here for my wife and she said oh, she’s already delivered, they’re still on the way!”
At less than 30 weeks old, Opal was born 11 weeks early. She was transferred from Whiston
Hospital to Liverpool Women’s Hospital the next day where the family are currently staying.
Andy said he wanted to thank North West Ambulance Service crew and the call centre who helped keep them calm, alongside staff at Whiston and Liverpool Women’s Hospital for their expertise and care.
An elated Andy added: “Opal’s doing really well. She’s come off her ventilator and she’s just finished a course of antibiotics.
“It’s incredible, I was downstairs playing Call Of Duty one minute and the next thing I got the phone call - she was born 47 minutes later.”
Caroline added: “The worry is they say the second ones come quicker!”