Giving birth in an unexpected place

What happens when the baby is born at home, by accident as it were - or in any place other than the hospital? Well , giving birth anywhere other than the intended place is likely to be distressing for you, to say the least. Fortunately though, this rarely happens, however it is still a possibility, so take time out to print the following page, and give it to your husband, or put it in a place accessible to those who may need advice should this happen.

In such circumstances it is a priority to ensure that the room or place is heated, in some way or another, to as near 21°C as possible - babies lose heat quickly and this can lead to a host of other problems. In the case of the very unfortunate happening and your baby is born whilst you are out shopping, try to get to a private room within the centre, and get someone to summon medical assistance. If the shop cannot provide towels or garments of some nature suitable in which to wrap your baby, then the next best option and warmest place for your baby would be snuggled against your skin, until medical help arrives.

The following pointers gives guidelines on what to do if you are with someone who is about to give birth in a unexpected place .....

• Stay calm!
• If you are at home, encourage the women to adopt whatever position is most comfortable for her, and phone an ambulance/midwife. If you are elsewhere, ask a bystander to phone the emergency services so that you can stay with the mother.
• Collect clean towels or items of clothing in which to wrap the baby.
• Try to ensure as much privacy as possible.
• Wash your hands.
• Do not interfere with the course of nature - it is dangerous to get the mother to cross her legs or to attempt to push the baby back in!
• As the head emerges, support it gently with cupped hands. Do not pull on the baby's head!
• If the cord is around the baby's neck, gently slip it over his head.
• Once the baby has fully emerged from the birth canal, place him on his mother's chest or stomach, and cover both baby and mother with clean towels or clothing.
• Do not attempt to cut the cord - wait for the emergency services.
• Wipe any mucus from the baby's mouth with a clean cloth.
• If the baby does not start to breathe immediately, stimulate breathing by holding him with his head a little lower than his body. Do not slap the baby on the the back.
• The placenta or afterbirth should come out by itself within about 15 minutes.
• Do not pull on the cord to deliver the placenta. If it does not come out, and the mother appears to be losing a substantial amount of blood (approx. 2 cups, or more), put the baby to the breast.
• Once the placenta has emerged, place it in a clean plastic bag for inspection by a doctor or midwife.
• Do not give the woman anything to eat or drink, before the emergency team arrives.