AWAY IN A LAY-BY
Holly born at side of road on Xmas Day
IT WAS the Christmas birth which made the manger in the stable seem like luxury by comparison.
Tiny Holly Slessor came into the world in a freezing lay-by after it became clear she could not wait until her parents reached the hospital.
The 6lb 15oz baby was delivered by her father Stuart while medics gave him instructions over the phone – including tying off her umbilical cord using his shoelace, which may have saved her life.
The drama happened in the early hours of Christmas Day after Holly’s mother went into labour at her home in Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Her husband Stuart helped her into the car and, along with his mother Karen, they set off for Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
But they had barely left home when it
‘A Christmas we’ll never forget’
became clear the baby was coming there and then. So Mr Slessor pulled over into a lay-by and delivered his daughter at the roadside at 2.35am – making her one of Scotland’s first Christmas babies.
He had dialled 999 and taken instructions on the delivery, but when the operator heard no crying, she told them to cut the umbilical cord. With nothing sharp to use, he had to improvise and blocked it with his shoelace.
He said: ‘As soon as I tied it, she started crying. It was a real relief. The ambulance came about 25 minutes later but it felt like forever – it’s certainly a Christmas we’ll never forget.’
The couple, already parents to 15-month-old Aaron, decided to call her Holly Faith as a nod to the day of her birth. They were recuperating at home yesterday and sharing their news on social media.
Little over 12 hours after the birth, Mrs Slessor was wishing Facebook friends a merry Christmas, announcing the birth of Holly and paying tribute to her ‘amazing’ husband for delivering the baby in their car on the Coupar Angus road.
She said: ‘Perfect gift to receive on Christmas Day.’
Later she revealed the hospital had sent her home earlier in the night but almost as soon as she got there she realised she would have to go back.
She said: ‘To then have her in the car was very traumatic but totally worth it. All the medical staff from the 999 operator, paramedics and midwives were fantastic and especially my amazing husband for delivering our beautiful baby safely.’
She added: ‘I am recovering well.’