SUCCESS parents Katherine and Tristan Fernandes have praised the efforts of their quick-thinking neighbours and help of St John paramedics on the safe delivery of baby Lincoln after he surprised them by making his dramatic entrance into the world three weeks early in a Cockburn carpark last month.
Mrs Fernandes said the unexpected experience came as a huge shock, with no signs of the pregnancy being any different to her first child, daughter Isla who was delivered right on time.
“Lincoln was due on June 10, so at 37 weeks and three days we certainly got a big surprise that he chose that day to join us,” she said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“The pregnancy this time around was very similar to the first one with my daughter Isla but the births could not have been more contrasting.
“With Isla I was in labour for about 28 hours due to her being in a posterior position and at my last midwife appointment for Lincoln it was suspected he too was posterior so I was anticipating a very similar birth the second time around too.”
Mrs Fernandes said on the morning of the birth she had felt “mildly uncomfortable” but went about her normal routine, thinking she was in very early stages of labour.
It wasn’t until mid-morning when her contractions began to get closer she thought she should call her husband and update him on her progress.
“My husband Tristan works in Rockingham so I rang him to tell him he may need to come home a little earlier today, but no rush as with Isla,” she said.
“I started to peg out the washing when completely out of the blue it changed to incredibly intense contractions which stopped me in my tracks.”
Mrs Fernandes said a call to her sister Lisa, a midwife, got her planning her next move, which included getting her neighbour to drive her to the hospital.
What happened next she never would have predicted.
“We truly have the most amazing neighbourhood you could possibly imagine,” she said.
“As an ex-police officer (my neighbour) Jason reassured me that I wasn’t the first pregnant woman in labour he had rushed to the hospital.
“I was feeling reasonably calm still at this stage, then five minutes into the journey my waters broke which took me completely by surprise.
“Within another few sets of lights I knew there was no stopping this baby so the ambulance was called and thankfully arrived quickly and within two minutes of that Lincoln had arrived.”
Mrs Fernandes said her husband was kept informed of the situation and arrived just as she gave birth.
From there the trio was taken to Armadale Hospital by ambulance where Mrs Fernandes said she experienced another first.
“It was a strange feeling being wheeled into the maternity ward with a baby on my chest but we were both so incredibly grateful for the wonderful support and expertise provided by paramedics Evert and Dave,” she said.
“I would have ever expected to be ‘that woman’ who gives birth in a carpark but we feel over the moon with the safe arrival of our little boy and are so grateful to all involved.”
MORE: Prime Minister to apologise to child sexual abuse survivors
MORE: Shorten to announce $400 million GST shortfall sweetener
MORE: Revised plans for Scarborough twin towers recommended for approval