Woman gives birth to healthy baby despite having no idea she was pregnant

May 20, 2019  10:43

A new mum has spoken of her shock after delivering a healthy baby girl - despite having no idea she was pregnant.

Stacey Porter, 20, gave birth to Sophia Grace Johnston on her bathroom floor in Grangemouth with no pain relief or assistance.

And she did so without the help of paramedics or her partner, David Johnston, 26, who was sleeping on the sofa downstairs.

The customer assistant at Barrhead Travel was suffering from stomach cramps the evening she gave birth, so in order to get sleep before going to work in the morning David went to sleep on the sofa.

Just after 4.14am, on May 10 he was woken up, after 60 missed calls from Stacey, by what he believes was crying or screaming from upstairs.

David picked up the phone eventually and Stacey said: "David, you need to come upstairs, I've had a baby."

David, who is still running on adrenaline a week after the birth, told The Record: "I was sleeping downstairs with my phone on silent not knowing what was going on in the bathroom.

"It's still a bit of a blur, but I think I was woken up by screaming or crying."

When he got to the bathroom Stacey ordered him to call 999 immediately.

David, a commercial sales representative at Certas Energy, still clearly flustered by what had just happened was told to pack an overnight bag for Stacey.

He said: "I didn't have a clue what to do, I was all over the place.

"The paramedic told me to pack a bag but for some reason I was looking for clothes in the fridge.

"I still can't explain the emotions I was going through at that moment."

Stacey added: "It all happened so quickly. One minute I was on the toilet in pain with stomach cramps then the next I was on the floor giving birth.

"It wasn't really until I saw the head coming out that I knew I was pregnant. It was a quick birth and David woke up just minutes after I had delivered her.

"People have asked me what emotions I was going through at the time but it was all just a blur, it wasn't until after that I thought my life had just turned round."

The surprise birth came after Stacey had being living a normal life, eating and drinking whatever and whenever she liked.

Throughout the nine months she was pregnant she was still experiencing regular periods and taking the birth control pill.

And over the Christmas and New Year period the couple took a trip to Thailand where Stacey ate and drank what she liked.

Alcohol and long haul flights are two of the many things that doctors tell pregnant mums to avoid.

Stacey said: "I was just doing what I normally do. Not having a lot of wine but just when we went out for dinner and things.

"I had a bit of heartburn when I was away but I thought that was just the spicy food.

"It wasn't until after giving birth that I found out babies with lots of hair give you heartburn."

David said the doctors and paramedics were astonished that Stacey didn't have a clue she was pregnant.

He said: "The paramedics hadn't dealt with a birth like this before so they were in as much shock as us.

"I think they were concerned when they arrived at the house.

"Thankfully after a couple of tests at the hospital (Forth Valley) the doctors said Stacey and Sophia were perfectly fine.

"It's a miracle that despite not knowing she was pregnant and living a normal life we have a healthy baby.

"We can't thank the paramedics who came to the house and the doctors at the hospital, they were amazing.

"It was nice that a day after being released from hospital one of the paramedics came to see us to see how things were."

On life as a mum and dad, David said: "We have adjusted and adapted, you have to. But we are lucky that our family and friends have been amazing and supported us since the birth.

"It's nothing we were prepared for whatsoever but we are learning as the days go on.

Source: dailyrecord.co.uk

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