Ice on roads forces Banbury woman to give birth at home

Margaret Holland, Abby and Sarah Hopcroft

Baby Abby was born in a matter of minutes

A woman delivered her daughter's baby at home in the downstairs toilet after icy roads prevented them from travelling to hospital.

Sarah Hopcroft, 28, of Longleat Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, went into labour on Tuesday morning.

An ambulance was called but her contractions were too close together and she gave birth at home, to Abby.

A medical worker spoke to her mother Margaret Holland on the phone to advise her on how to deliver the baby.

She was told how to hold the baby's head, and how to make sure the cord was not wrapped round the baby's neck.

'This is it'

Abby was born at 0950 GMT, weighing 7lb 11oz, and an ambulance carrying two midwives arrived just a few minutes later.

Mrs Hopcroft's father Michael Holland had planned to drive her to the Horton Hospital in Banbury but there was no time.

We've been given a nice Christmas present

Margaret Holland

Mrs Holland said: "The worst bit weather-wise was on the estate with the icy roads. You could get out if you took your time but we didn't have the time to make it.

"At the time I thought, 'Oh God I can't do this', but the paramedic on the phone was really good so I just got on with it. The adrenaline kicked in and that's it - it took just minutes it was so quick."

She added: "We're all delighted and Ruby the older daughter has taken to her new sister really well. We've been given a nice Christmas present."

Dan Boon, an Emergency Medical Dispatcher who guided the birth over the telephone, said he found the whole experience "very enlightening".

Mrs Hopcroft said she had no idea she would give birth that day.

She said: "I woke up at five in the morning with some niggles but didn't think anything of it.

"I got my three-year-old daughter Ruby ready by 9am and the contractions were starting to get closer together. That's when I thought, 'this is it, she's on her way'."