A FATHER delivered his son in a car outside a Gwent hospital when the baby simply could not wait to be born.
Mum Catherine Jenkins, from Steep Street, Chepstow, could not get into Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital in time for the birth, so father Stephen had to deliver their second child.
Their son decided to arrive in the hospital car park, with Mrs Jenkins giving birth in the front passenger seat of the family's red Fiat Punto. The baby, who has not yet been named, had been expected on September 8.
After their dramatic rush to the hospital, the baby weighed in at 7lb 10oz at 10am on Wednesday.
The car's cracked windscreen remains as a souvenir - it split under the pressure from Mrs Jenkins' foot during the hasty delivery.
Mrs Jenkins, 31, told the Argus how within just two hours she went from blow-drying her hair to giving birth in the passenger seat.
She said: "It just all happened so quickly. At about 8.10am I had a few twinges, but I thought it was nothing.
"We even joked about how inconvenient it would be for the baby to arrive early."
Mr Jenkins, 33, an architect, left for work in Cardiff as normal at 8.20am, but by the time he'd got to the city, he had to turn back. He said: "It was one of the most stressful journeys of my life. "I drove from Cardiff back to Chepstow, and then to the Royal Gwent in about 40 minutes. It was pretty terrifying." But there was more to come. After a harrowing M4 journey, and while the Tweenies played in the background to soothe the couple's elder son, two-year-old Will, the family finally arrived at the Royal Gwent. They were told by ambulance staff to drive to the Bellevue entrance at the back of the hospital, where they would be met by maternity staff. But Baby Jenkins could wait no longer, and as the car pulled up he made his early appearance.
Mrs Jenkins said: "We pulled up and his head was already emerging. Stephen had to deliver him.
"It must have been a sight - amid the people standing outside smoking and those eating in the restaurant I was giving birth. And Will was sat in his car seat in the back of the car the whole time."
Medical staff arrived seconds after the delivery and took care of the impatient youngster and his shocked mum.
Sister Anne Wharburton was the first midwife to arrive. She said: "When I got to them the baby was already out and lying on his mum's tummy. I checked to make sure they were both OK and then reassured Mrs Jenkins, who was very shocked.
"After 20 years I've seen things like this before - but they don't happen that often."
Baby Jenkins, who has yet to be named, had been due to be induced, as at 9lb 10oz Will's had been a difficult delivery.
Mrs Jenkins said: "Thankfully it was such a shock I didn't have time to worry over the size, and luckily he was perfect."
The couple, who moved to Chepstow from Croydon just three months ago, were expecting to be able to complete some renovation work on their house before the new arrival was born.
Mrs Jenkins added: "We had planned to sell the Fiat soon - now I'm not sure anyone will want it!"
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