Baby arrives with advice from Chris
FIRSTTIME parents have relived the moment they delivered their own baby girl at home with the help of a 999 call handler.
Teacher Abigail Jones, 33, went into labour at around 10pm on Thursday, June 3, and made a trip to hospital where nurses confirmed she was still in the very early stages.
But within hours of the couple returning to their Llanelli home things took a dramatic turn.
Her partner Troy Smith, 34, recalled: “At around 4.30am Abigail developed a lot of pain and said she had an urge to push.
“I thought: ‘Right, this is happening’ and phoned an ambulance because I knew I’d be delivering the baby right there and then.
“I’ve never felt adrenaline like it but I knew I had to focus on the situation for Abigail and the baby’s sake.”
Welsh Ambulance Service call handler Chris Bassett answered Troy’s call from the NHS trust’s clinical contact centre in Carmarthen.
He was put on loud speaker and was able to give the couple clear instructions about what they should do.
The 29-year-old dad-of-two, who has been with the Welsh Ambulance Service for only 18 months, said: “As soon as I answered the call it was obvious that Troy and Abigail were in distress – as anyone would be in that situation.
“The priority was to get Abigail in a comfortable position to deliver the baby safely.
“For me it was about giving them clear instructions while trying to keep them both calm.”
New dad Troy, who runs Llanellibased Ecoheat Plumbing and Gas Services, recalled: “I just did what came naturally.
“When you’re in that situation you just do it.
“As soon as the baby came I felt this wave of relief and I just couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was. Chris was so professional and handled the situation really well. He gave us all the information and kept us calm.”
Little Arabella Dilys Smith was delivered in the bedroom of their Pwll home in the early hours of Friday, June 4, weighing a healthy 8lb 1oz.
Ambulance crews arrived soon after and took Abigail to Carmarthen’s Glangwili General Hospital where she was treated for shock before being discharged the following day.
Abigail, a teacher at Ysgol Carreg Hir in Briton Ferry, said: “The whole thing was petrifying because I just never expected to be having the baby at home but we’re so grateful to Chris for helping us to deliver Arabella safely.”
Chris, a former RAF aerospace systems operator from Hook, Pembrokeshire, added: “In your role as a 999 call handler you’re helping people in their darkest hour but I’m just glad this call had a happy ending.
“This is the third baby I’ve helped to deliver during my time at the ambulance service but the first one I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”