Health

Mother gives birth at home after ‘being told there were no beds in NHS hospital’


A mother who said she couldn’t be stimulated because there were no beds available at her local NHS hospital gave birth at home without medical help or pain relief.

Angharad Woolley gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Esmae, in her living room at midnight with the help of her husband Paul.

The 41-year-old, hailed by her proud husband as ‘superman’, went into labor just over two hours before giving birth to the 7lb and 8oz Esmae 18 minutes before an ambulance arrived.

Amghrad is 40 weeks 4 days pregnant and is waiting for a call from her local NHS hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire, to take her in.

But she said they couldn’t stimulate because they were told the maternity ward was full and there was no bed to accommodate her.

The first image of Esmae Woolley (with her parents Anghrad and Paul) after being cleaned up.  She was born in a 'infertile' home birth, guided by a midwife over the phone

The first image of Esmae Woolley (with her parents Anghrad and Paul) after being cleaned up.  She was born in a 'infertile' home birth, guided by a midwife over the phone

The first image of Esmae Woolley (with her parents Anghrad and Paul) after being cleaned up. She was born in a ‘infertile’ home birth, guided by a midwife over the phone

An ambulance arrived 18 minutes after Esmae was born.  Paul expressed his deep gratitude to the South Central Ambulance Service for their help

An ambulance arrived 18 minutes after Esmae was born.  Paul expressed his deep gratitude to the South Central Ambulance Service for their help

An ambulance arrived 18 minutes after Esmae was born. Paul expressed his deep gratitude to the South Central Ambulance Service for their help

Esmae, who weighed 7lb and 8oz at birth, was overdue but her mother said she couldn't stimulate because there weren't enough beds to accommodate her.

Esmae, who weighed 7lb and 8oz at birth, was overdue but her mother said she couldn't stimulate because there weren't enough beds to accommodate her.

Esmae, who weighed 7lb and 8oz at birth, was overdue but her mother said she couldn’t stimulate because there weren’t enough beds to accommodate her.

Angharad, from Cowplain – about 5 miles from QA Hospital – started having contractions at home at 2:37 a.m., woke up thinking she needed to go to the bathroom.

She said: ‘I was so scared.

‘We can’t get a referral. We waited another week until 42 weeks. We had to wait until she came spontaneously. ‘

Her husband called the NHS Labor Line to ask them to be hospitalized, but when Angharad got to the car, she could already feel the baby coming.

She said: ‘I thought the baby would come and fall on the concrete floor outside when we got in the car. I went back straight. ‘

During the ‘rare’ home birth, a midwife spoke to Mrs Judith, Paul’s mother – who was also in the living room – to be called an ‘unassisted birth on arrival’.

While Paul was on the phone with his midwife, he saw baby Esmae’s head ‘pop out’. He say: ‘[Esmae] almost fell into my hand on the pillow. My mother rushed over and tried to grab her and give her to Aggie. ‘

Paul's parents George and Judith were at home during the unexpected birth of baby Esmae as they had planned to take care of her brother Max.  Judith ended up assisting with the delivery and was guided over the phone by a midwife

Paul's parents George and Judith were at home during the unexpected birth of baby Esmae as they had planned to take care of her brother Max.  Judith ended up assisting with the delivery and was guided over the phone by a midwife

Paul’s parents George and Judith were at home during the unexpected birth of baby Esmae as they had planned to take care of her brother Max. Judith ended up assisting with the delivery and was guided over the phone by a midwife

Angharad and baby Esmae were taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire after birth (pictured in an ambulance en route to hospital)

Angharad and baby Esmae were taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire after birth (pictured in an ambulance en route to hospital)

Paul said the lead midwife at the hospital said she had never experienced anything like this in her 22 years there (Image: Esmae's umbilical cord was cut by her father)

Paul said the lead midwife at the hospital said she had never experienced anything like this in her 22 years there (Image: Esmae's umbilical cord was cut by her father)

Angharad and baby Esmae were taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire after giving birth. The lead midwife at the hospital, Paul said, said she had never experienced anything like this in her 22 years there.

When the ambulance crew arrived 18 minutes later, they ‘didn’t believe’ the baby had been delivered – and the midwives at QA Hospital were also in shock.

Paul said: ‘When she was wrapped up in the baby’s arms, the midwives couldn’t believe it.

‘We told them what happened. The live midwife that night said she’d been there for 22 years and she’d never been through it.

‘We wanted to write a letter to South Central Ambulance Service to say thank you so much for what they did.’

Angharad, who already has a two-year-old son Max with her husband, added: ‘I’m so relieved. I just wanted her to exhale and breathe because as you get older you read things about the risks.

‘I knew in my head that I had to do what had to be done to get this little person out safely.

Angharad said Esmae's birth on August 20 was 'fated' because it was the day her late brother should have turned 70

Angharad said Esmae's birth on August 20 was 'fated' as it was the day her late brother should have turned 70

Angharad, who already has a two-year-old son Max (pictured) with her husband, added: 'I'm so relieved.  I just want her to exhale and breathe because as you get older you'll read things about the risks'

Angharad, who already has a two-year-old son Max (pictured) with her husband, added: 'I'm so relieved.  I just want her to exhale and breathe because as you get older you'll read things about the risks'

Angharad, who is already mother to Max, 2 (pictured right), said Esmae’s birth on August 20 was ‘fated’ as it was the day her late brother was supposed to have died turning 70 years old

When Paul (right) called the NHS Labor Line they told him to go to hospital but by the time Mrs Woolley got to the car she could already feel the baby coming.

When Paul (right) called the NHS Labor Line they told him to go to hospital but by the time Mrs Woolley got to the car she could already feel the baby coming.

When Paul (right) called the NHS Labor Line they told him to go to hospital but by the time Mrs Woolley got to the car she could already feel the baby coming.

Angharad’s brother, who died in the pandemic, will turn 70 on August 20 – the day Esmae was born. ‘It was like fate,’ she said.

A spokesperson for the University of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, in charge of Hospitals QA, commented on their care for pregnant patients.

They said: ‘Pregnant people are asked to contact the Labor Line upon learning they are in labour.

‘The Labor Line covers the Hampshire area and will direct people to the nearest hospital with maternity beds available.

‘Pregnant people will always receive care at the nearest hospital where possible, but in the event that the hospital is full, care may be taken at another hospital in the area and may have to travel further afield.

‘While we strive to accommodate home births where possible, it always depends on being able to provide safe care at home and in hospital.

‘No pregnant person refuses maternity care.’




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