Emergency for Oxford dad who had to deliver his baby son (From thisisoxfordshire)

Emergency for Oxford dad who had to deliver his baby son

6:50am Saturday 18th July 2009

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A DAD who had to delivered his own son after his partner went into labour described the moment as “the best feeling ever”.

Mum Louise Perkins thought she still had three weeks to go when contractions suddenly came on while at home in Barton.

And before dad-to-be Stewart Morton had the chance to whisk her off to hospital, he discovered the baby was well on its way and was told he’d have to deliver the tot himself.

Mr Morton successfully delivered a healthy baby boy, Harley Wayne Morton, at 10.57pm on Tuesday, with guidance from a 999 call centre operator.

The newborn weighed 5lb 10oz and arrived just 10 minutes after Mr Morton made the initial emergency call.

Moments after he handed his son to his partner, he heard a knock at the door in High Cross Way and the paramedics were outside, followed soon after by the couple’s midwife.

Mr Morton, 27, said: “It was the best feeling ever. It was unbelievable, I still can’t believe I did it. He basically just shot into my arms. It was completely overwhelming.”

Mr Morton admitted he didn’t believe he could do it on his own and was very scared.

He said: “I was saying: ‘I can’t do this’ and the operator just said ‘listen to me, you must deliver the baby’.

“Without her, I would never have been able to do it and I really want to find out who she is and thank her.

“This is very, very special.”

As well as delivering Harley, Mr Morton had to pierce the sack surrounding his son’s head to allow him to breathe.

The couple have another son, Levi, who is 20 months old, and Miss Perkins has a seven-year-old son from a previous relationship, Tyreek, both of whom were born in hospital.

Miss Perkins, 25, said: “It was three weeks early and as far as I knew my waters had not broken, so I didn’t think I was in labour.

“When I realised what was happening, I felt very scared, but Stewart did really well.”

Despite having contractions throughout the day, Miss Perkins had not taken any painkillers.

She was given gas and air after the birth by paramedics, before being taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, where she stayed for two nights before being allowed to return home.

Miss Perkins said: “I’m very glad Stewart was with me, because if he hadn’t I don’t know what I would have done.

“It was hard and very scary, but it will be an experience I will never forget.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk

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