Canterbury Hospital midwives and NSW Ambulance paramedics help with speedy emergency birth.
 

Baby Charlotte Grace’s birth will be one that lingers in the memories of Canterbury Hospital midwives and NSW Ambulance paramedics. 

On 26 April, Marrickville resident Arianna Garrat was at home when her contractions started at 9:30pm.

“I thought I might get a few hours at home but then it started getting closer and at 10:30, after I took a shower, the contractions got closer together, so we called for an ambulance,” she said.

Arianna’s plan had been to give birth at Kareena Private Hospital, but it didn't seem like baby Charlotte could wait through the 40-minute drive.

When the two ambulances arrived, one for mum and one for baby, Arianna was advised to go straight to hospital.

“They thought I was about to have the baby at the house,” she said.

“They asked me if I wanted to go to RPA or Canterbury, and I said Canterbury.”

Waiting at Canterbury Hospital was Fiona Burless, Clinical Midwifery Specialist, who was ready for an urgent delivery.

"When we met the ambulance at the Tudor street entrance at 12:36am the baby’s head was already crowning,” she said. 

“I directed her straight to one of the Birthing Unit beds and was joined by all available midwives, the four ambulance officers and Arianna's partner Rav.”

Just one minute later at 12:37am, before Arianna could be transferred to a bed, baby Charlotte made her entrance – and was caught by paramedic Michael Cameron.

"What a rush. It was exhilarating," said Fiona.

Arianna and her husband, Rav, said they would like to thank the Canterbury midwives for being calm and excited with them during the birth.

“It was so nice that they almost made us more excited because they were so excited,” Arianna said. 

“It was a really nice experience, like they're all in it with us even though we didn't know them.

"It was my second time [giving birth] and it just felt like they were so caring and just easy-going. It just felt night and day difference, it was really nice.”

For Senior Paramedic Michael, Charlotte was his eighth baby delivery, and for his colleague Julie Clough one of many, but for junior paramedics Maddi Harris and Michael Desses the exciting events were a first.

And for Fiona and her team at the Canterbury Hospital Birthing Unit, Baby Charlotte’s quick birth could be one for the record books.