Bedminster mum gives birth in shop doorway

A family from Bedminster made an unexpected delivery on St Michael's Hill in Bristol – little Ivy Plews was born to Sarah Plews in a shop doorway near the maternity hospital after midwives told the 35-year-old mother she was not about to give birth.

Sarah, who is also mum to two-year-old Mabel, and her husband Dave arrived at St Michael's Hospital at noon on December 4 after Sarah's contractions started earlier that day.

When the midwives assessed her and said that she had a couple of hours to go and could wait at the hospital or pop out for lunch, Mrs Plews decided to go out to a nearby cafe.

However, before the couple reached the cafe, Mrs Plews realised that baby Ivy's arrival was imminent.

She told the Bristol Evening Post: "I felt the baby coming and me and my husband then tried to make it back to the hospital.

"But we didn't quite make it. On the way back, the baby was coming out. My husband sat me in a doorway and that's where I gave birth."

Midwives rushed from the maternity hospital to the shop doorway to care for Mrs Plews and Ivy, who was born weighing 6lbs 13oz.

Mrs Plews, who said the midwives were fantastic, would also like to trace a passer-by, Lucy, who stopped to help. She said: "She stayed and chatted to me as my husband went down to the hospital. 

"Midwives then came out of the hospital to us, along with an ambulance. They sorted me out, put me in a wheelchair and took me to the hospital. We were absolutely fine."