Norwich mother lost five litres of blood during unexpected home birth

Kevin Rudd, paramedic, and James Tuddenham, emergency care technician, cuddle Jupiter, whom they helped deliver in a home-birth. (Image: Archant)

Hannah Olive-Jones and her husband Si, of Brightwell Road, Norwich, had planned for their first child to be born in hospital.

But little baby Jupiter had other ideas, and sent Mrs Olive-Jones into labour in the middle of the night. East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) crew Kevin Rudd and James Tuddenham rushed to her aid and just minutes later Jupiter was born on an ambulance stretcher in the family's kitchen at 3.37am last July.

Mrs Oliver-Jones, then aged 31, subsequently spent five days in hospital recovering from the birth as she had lost blood during the birth.

Eight months on she met the crew again to thank them for their help in the dramatic incident.

'My first contractions were only a couple of minutes apart and I knew contractions did not happen that quickly,' Mrs Olive-Jones said.

'Jupiter was very eager to make her entrance into the word. She did not cry, she just made a noise and fell asleep on my chest.'

It was the first time Mr Tuddenham, an emergency medical technician, had helped deliver a baby, after four years of working for EEAST.

He said: 'I remember giving Hannah gas and air, and once we got her on the stretcher, Jupiter's head was out.

'I was relieved that it was the head and not legs first. I feel honoured I was there.'

Mrs Olive-Jones added: 'I can't thank Kevin and James enough.

'I felt a huge sense of relief when they turned up, and I knew it was going to be OK.

'They were so nice, made me laugh, and put me at ease. I was glad that they were there to catch her.'

Mr Rudd, a paramedic, has worked for the ambulance service for 30 years,

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Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk