A baby arrived with a splash when his mum’s waters broke as she went swimming at a luxury spa.
Leah Pashley, 28, had gone for a dip and a spot of lunch with mother-in-law Jackie Pashley when she suddenly went into labour.
Her waters broke but with no pains Jackie advised her to take a shower and dress thinking she still had a couple of hours to go.
But when Leah went to the toilet little Lewis’ head popped out and he was born in the cubicle – with the help of Jackie, a nurse with 20 years’ experience in paedatrics.
Leah said: “I went to the toilet and he was delivered in the cubicle – it was a big shock.
“The staff all helped out and they were brilliant but without Jackie there it would have been more complicated.”
She added: “I think I just went into shock – my legs started shaking but everything happened so quickly.
“We arrived at the spa at 2pm and by half past he was born.
“Fortunately everything was fine and he was really healthy and well but it didn’t happen the way I had planned.”
Leah had woken on the morning of August 17 with pains and had contacted her midwife.
But she told her to go about her normal routine which included a relaxing spa day at Forest Pines Hotel and Golf resort, near Broughton, North Lincs.
As Jackie was relaxing in the sauna, Leah’s waters broke in the pool.
Jackie said: “She came over to me and I told her, as it was her first baby, labour wouldn’t happen for a few hours and we should have a shower and grab a bit of lunch.
“We went into the changing rooms and I was by the lockers when I heard a howl from the toilets and asked Leah if everything was alright.
“As I went in the cubicle after she unlocked the door I could see him crowning.”
Despite Leah desperately shouting out ‘no, not here’, Lewis was determined to come out and a few seconds later he had slipped out into Jackie’s arms.
Jackie added: “I’ve got a lot of experience as a nurse but I’ve never delivered a baby – there’s a first time for everything.
“I rubbed him down in some towels and then put him straight on to Leah and then I fell to pieces. I couldn’t believe it.”
Dad Matt, 28, Jackie’s son and Leah’s husband Matt, then got a phone call from his mum announcing the surprise arrival.
Jackie said: “He thought I was joking at first but then I said to him, ‘I have just delivered your son’.”
Leah and Lewis were taken to hospital and discharged the next day and both are now doing well.
Of her first grandchild, Jackie said: “He is an unbelievable chilled and settled baby. Leah was absolutely marvellous.
“We’re all really lucky.”
Forest Pines Leisure Club assistant manager, Emma Jay-Brown also helped the delivery with receptionist Kelly Lewis.
Emma said: “I’m a first-aider and, ironically, we were in a team meeting when we heard what was happening.
“The baby had just been born and we had to unwrap the umbilical cord from his neck.
“We had to comfort the mum and her mother-in-law who was going into shock.
“It took about ten minutes for the paramedics to arrive but it seemed like ages.”
