Frome Birthing Centre has welcomed its first Frome baby since re-opening – but the baby very nearly arrived in the car park outside!
Bertie Martin was born at 10.11pm on Tuesday night last week, just one day after the centre re-opened.
Delighted mum, Steena, told Frome Times, “It was just so lovely, but it was touch and go if we made it in time. My waters broke in the car park outside and the baby arrived 40 minutes later; the staff didn’t even have time to book me in first!
“I am very relieved indeed that I didn’t have to go to Bath!”
Steena said she was so happy to have her baby at the Birthing Centre, which re-opened on 31st October after being suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and staff shortages.
“The staff were absolutely amazing,” said Steena.
“We’re so pleased we were able to come to Frome. It’s such a nice atmosphere. Can I say a massive thank you to the staff there (Alice, Ash and Lisa); they were all incredible. Thank you for taking care of us all; it all happened so fast, and you were with us every step of the way. They were amazing.
“I wanted to have my baby in Frome right from the very beginning. We were so happy when we heard the centre was re-opening. My due date was early November so we knew it was going to be touch and go, so I’ve been crossing my fingers – and my legs – hoping I would last out till it re-opened!
“The birth was very quick. I had my first contraction about ten past eight and rang Frome about 15 minutes later.
They said, ‘wait until they ramp up a bit, but they ramped up very quickly, so 20 minutes later I rang them back and they said I’d better come in.
“My husband’s mum and dad came round to look after our other boy, Ralph, and we set off to the centre and got there about 9.30. That’s when my waters broke in the car park; it was like in the movies. We rushed in and they didn’t even have time to book me onto the computer system before Bertie arrived.
“Everyone was so calm; it was lovely, just very relaxed. The staff were so excited when I rang; they said, ‘You’re going to be our first birth’. It was like a welcome party when we arrived and once I’d had him, they were grinning from ear to ear.
“It was so good to be able to have my baby here in Frome, we’re so lucky to have a centre like this.”
Frome Birthing Centre said on Wednesday, “Last night at 22:11 we welcomed in our first Frome baby since reopening. He weighs 6lb 13oz and looks very contented tucked up with his mummy! The first of many babies to come!”
