Special delivery
Paramedic’s visit
A Strath paramedic has been reunited with the baby girl he helped to deliver during her emergency birth.
Bella was born on the bathroom floor of her parents’ home after she decided to make a quick arrival in September last year after mum Grace’s labour suddenly went “from 0 to 100” in a short space of time.
Nathan Thomson from Crieff and his Tayside ambulance crew colleague Pamela Fisher were quick on the scene and safely delivered Bella into the world in the early hours of the morning.
And they recently made another delivery to the family’s home in Perth - a present to celebrate Bella’s first birthday.
Bella, mum Grace Thomson and dad Paul were pleased to see Nathan and Pamela, who are based at Perth.
Grace described how she quickly went into labour last year. “It was evident we needed urgent help,” she said “as I was getting a strong urge to push. Paul was advised to call an ambulance and the operator on the phone could not have been more helpful in calming Paul down and telling him what to gather in case the baby made an entrance before the paramedics arrived.
“Thankfully the ambulance arrived before Paul had to think about delivering the baby.”
Grace said lying on the bathroom floor was one of the scariest moments of her life, but her fear’s abated once Nathan and Pamela arrived.
She continued: “They were so calm. Not only were they attentive with myself, but they also looked after Paul who you can imagine was frantic at the time. After what seemed like only a few pushes, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl.”
Paul got the chance to cut the newborn’s cord and the couple were taken to Perth Royal Infirmary with Bella, before they were transferred to Ninewells Hospital.
A year after the dramatic birth, Grace received a text message from Nathan asking how Bella was, and if he and Pamela could drop off a present.
Grace added: “This for us was one of the kindest, thoughtful gestures we have ever had and definitely brought a lot of emotions back - I take my hat off for the work they do but also going that extra mile.”
Nathan said: “We arrived to find Grace on her bathroom floor trying to push. Our initial thoughts were to get mum down into the ambulance and up to hospital but, when we did our checks, we found that the baby’s head was appearing. Within minutes and a couple of pushes from Grace, Bella was born on their bathroom floor.”
Pamela added: “Grace was amazing that night, and we were so grateful to be given the chance to go back a year later to meet Bella and catch up with Grace. That’s a nightshift I won’t forget!”
One of the kindest, thoughtful gestures we have ever had and definitely brought a lot of emotions back Mum Grace