A mum has told how she was forced to give birth on the back seat of her car on a SKODA forecourt after her panicking partner gave paramedics the wrong directions.
Rebecca Meacham, 21, knew she had to get to hospital when she suddenly woke up in labour in the early hours of Saturday morning.
She and her partner Ricky Sparrey, 22, quickly phoned his stepdad Robert Evans who came to pick them up in his Suzuki 4×4 at 12.50am.
The couple called 999 but panicking Ricky kept giving paramedics the wrong road name so they were forced to pull over on the forecourt of a nearby Skoda dealership.
Rebecca’s contractions continued to gather pace and she gave birth to baby Poppy on the back seat of the 4×4.
The paramedics, who talked Ricky through the birth on the phone, then arrived a few minutes later and took the family to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Baby Poppy, who weighed a healthy 7lb 6oz, was checked over and allowed to go home at lunchtime the same day.
Receptionist Rebecca, who lives with grounds maintenance worker Ricky in Malvern, Worcs., says: “I must have been having contractions in my sleep.
“I woke up and knew the baby was coming and wanted to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.”
“We were panicking but I thought we would get there so we jumped in the car at 12.50am with Ricky’s stepdad Robert driving.
“We were probably only in the car for 10 minutes but the paramedics told us to pull over because they couldn’t find us if we were moving.
“But Ricky was panicking and kept saying the wrong road name so they didn’t get to us in time.
“I delivered the head myself and Ricky had to climb over from the front seat and he delivered the rest himself.
“He was on the phone to the paramedics but he put it down to deliver her and then picked it up again once it was done.”
“It literally took just two pushes so it was over very quickly.
“Poppy was completely fine, we just had to spend the morning in hospital and went home that lunchtime.”
Rebecca, who has two other children with Ricky – Phoebe, three, and one-year-old Owen – said she didn’t realise the labour would be so quick.
She added: “It was all very fast, it was just a 35 minute labour and I was expecting something like four hours.
“I was induced for Phoebe and Owen so didn’t know how fast it could all happen naturally.
“Everyone thinks it is completely ridiculous that I gave birth on the Skoda forecourt.
“It will definitely be a good story to tell her when she gets older.”
Ben Winslow, director at Startin Skoda in Powick, Worc., added: I am glad our forecourt was a safe place for this young family.
“Congratulations to them and we wish young Poppy all the best.”
