John
06-15-2009, 04:05 PM
A Hampshire woman gave birth in a car as it drove along a motorway - after being sent home twice that day by a hospital.
Rebecca Longley, 20, ended up delivering Aaliyah herself as boyfriend Andrew Mildenhall focused on the road, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The couple had first gone to the hospital that morning and then again in the evening but were told both times that Miss Longley wasn't ready to give birth.
Two hours later the beauty therapist's waters broke but when she phoned the same hospital, medics still advised her to stay at home.
Ten minutes later the couple decided to take matters into their own hands and head back to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, in their Peugeot 206.
But before they got there Miss Langley went into labour and gave birth to 6lb 1oz baby girl Aaliyah on the front passenger seat on the M3.
Miss Longley, from Hamble, said: "I really had no idea what to expect because it was my first child. I had a real mix of emotions.
"When it first started I was so scared and worried but that turned to relief and happiness when she was born and we realised she was OK. Andrew did a brilliant job to carry on driving even though he was feeling quite faint.
"I had no drugs and I was screaming with pain but my natural instincts kicked in as soon as I saw the baby's head pop out. I just knew what I had to do."
A hospital spokesman confirmed that Miss Longley was sent home twice but said that the advice was given because of the slow progress of her labour.
Rebecca Longley, 20, ended up delivering Aaliyah herself as boyfriend Andrew Mildenhall focused on the road, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The couple had first gone to the hospital that morning and then again in the evening but were told both times that Miss Longley wasn't ready to give birth.
Two hours later the beauty therapist's waters broke but when she phoned the same hospital, medics still advised her to stay at home.
Ten minutes later the couple decided to take matters into their own hands and head back to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, in their Peugeot 206.
But before they got there Miss Langley went into labour and gave birth to 6lb 1oz baby girl Aaliyah on the front passenger seat on the M3.
Miss Longley, from Hamble, said: "I really had no idea what to expect because it was my first child. I had a real mix of emotions.
"When it first started I was so scared and worried but that turned to relief and happiness when she was born and we realised she was OK. Andrew did a brilliant job to carry on driving even though he was feeling quite faint.
"I had no drugs and I was screaming with pain but my natural instincts kicked in as soon as I saw the baby's head pop out. I just knew what I had to do."
A hospital spokesman confirmed that Miss Longley was sent home twice but said that the advice was given because of the slow progress of her labour.