Hi-de-help!
While off having fun at a holiday camp, Charlotte sleigh, 23, from Bolton, got an almighty shock in her chalet...
Smiling, I watched my daughter Ebony, 3, and son Aston, 2, happily munching on fluffy pink candyfloss. ‘Look at your sticky faces,’ I laughed. ‘Right, who wants to go to the fair?’
As Ebony and Aston let out a massive cheer, their dad, my partner Wayne, 35, squeezed my hand.
It was August this year, the first day of a four-day break at a holiday camp in Southport.
At 36 weeks pregnant, I could hardly go on the roller-coasters at the fun fair!
But I was having the best time with Wayne and the kids, not to mention my mum Beverley, 44, and my best mate Becky, 23, and her family, too.
It was a welcome break after an exhausting few months.
I hadn’t even realised I was pregnant until the 17-week mark, when I’d felt movement in my belly. I’d had no morning sickness or missed periods.
Wayne and I hadn’t even been trying for another baby!
After a scan revealed it was a boy, Mum had suggested the perfect name – Oakley. ‘You have good taste,’ I said. We were so close.
As my bump was measuring small, I’d needed to have fortnightly hospital scans.
Unfortunately, they’d revealed that Oakley was in the breech position and I hoped he’d turn before his due date, 14 September this year.
In the meantime, I wanted to enjoy our holiday.
We had two fab days, but on the third, I had cramping pains about every 10 minutes in my belly.
With Oakley’s due date still a month away, I figured they were Braxton Hicks – ‘practice’ labour pains.
‘Take it easy today, eh?’ Becky said.
But I wouldn’t let this spoil my fun.
‘Let’s go to the beach!’ I said, wanting to make sandcastles with the kids.
We had another cracking
At 36 weeks pregnant, I could hardly go on the rollercoasters!
day and, by teatime, the pain had eased, thankfully.
I watched the entertainment in the clubhouse and then crashed out on the sofa bed with the kids in our chalet. At 3am, I sat bolt upright. The pains were stronger now. Not wanting to wake the kids or Wayne, who was asleep in the bedroom, I staggered next door to Mum’s chalet.
‘I’ll run you a bath,’ she said. But there was no hot water. ‘I’ll just try to get some sleep,’ I said, going into our chalet and getting in bed, while Wayne got onto the sofa bed with the kids.
I hoped the pains would be gone by the following morning, when we were due to go home.
But, when I next woke up at 6.30am, I was in agony.
Each wave of pain brought the overwhelming urge to push. That’s when I knew…
‘Wayne,’ I cried out to him. ‘The baby’s coming!’
He rushed in, panicking. ‘He’s not due for another four weeks!’ Wayne stammered. Tell me about it! I thought. Then my mum raced in and tried to call an ambulance.
But there was no phone signal in our chalet, so she had to go up to Reception.
In the meantime, I just couldn’t stop myself pushing.
‘Aarrgh!’ I yelled, glancing down and realising the baby was already half out, with his two little legs dangling down!
He was still breech and coming out feet first!
Wayne was doing his best, but Ebony had woken up crying, so he kept going off to comfort her.
Thankfully, Mum reappeared.
‘The ambulance is coming,’ she said, getting onto the bed. ‘But we can’t wait that long.’
I’d lost so much blood that I was so weak and kept drifting in and out of consciousness. ‘I can’t carry on,’ I whispered. ‘You need to push now, darling,’ Mum said, taking my face in her hands.
Suddenly my eyes snapped open – she was right!
We were away in a holiday camp without a midwife in sight. But Mum was here and I trusted her. Wayne came to my side, too, and held my hand. ‘You can do this,’ he reassured me. Taking a deep breath, I pushed with all my might as Mum guided the baby with her hands. ‘He’s out!’ she cried. But then Wayne’s horrified expression sent a chill right through me.
‘Oh God, no, he’s dead!’ he choked. The tiny figure on the bed was lifeless - he wasn’t moving or breathing.
He was blue. Mum crouched over Oakley, trying desperately to clear his airways before massaging his chest. ‘Come on, baby,’ piped up a little voice. It was Ebony, who’d come wandering in. Time stood still. Then… ‘There’s a bubble by his nostril,’ Mum cried. ‘He’s breathing!’
We all sobbed – and, when Oakley joined in, his cry was the most beautiful sound ever. Paramedics soon arrived and bundled Oakley and me off to Southport and Ormskirk Hospital for checks. Oakley weighed just 4lb 5oz. He also had slight jaundice but, luckily, he didn’t require treatment and we went home to Bolton after three days. ‘He’s like a dolly,’ Ebony beamed. She was right. All the romper suits I’d bought were hanging off him. But, as the days passed, Oakley gradually gained weight and now he’s thriving. And we owe it all to Mum. I can’t thank her enough for saving Oakley’s life. One thing’s for sure, though. We’re all heading back to the holiday camp to celebrate Oakley’s first birthday. And, this time, with my family safe and sound, I’ll be one happy camper!
He was half out, with his two little legs dangling down...