This incredible picture shows a brave mum’s beaming smile moments after she delivered her own baby on a bathroom floor – just four minutes after her waters broke.
Proud new mum Gill Woolstencroft, of Droylsden, near Manchester was soaking in the bathtub at 3am when her waters suddenly broke.
She screamed for her boyfriend, but after failing to wake him, she felt the baby’s head emerge as she desperately clambered out of the tub.
But with the help of a couple paracetamol to battle the pain, the 24-year-old miraculously gave birth to little baby Alyssa in no more than two pushes.
She and her partner of seven years, Scott Robinson, 26, a dog trainer, had been watching the Dark Knight when sudden back ache came on.
Four days overdue with their second baby, Miss Woolstencroft called the midwife at 1am who told her to wait until her contractions felt strong.
She ran a bath to try and relax, but during the early morning soak, she felt her waters break.
“I was in labour,” she told Manchester Evening News . “It had just gone 3am and was a massive shock.
“I screamed for Scott to wake up and help me out of the bath.”
At 3.08am dog trainer Mr Robinson lifted his partner out of the tub and went to get some towels.
Yet as Miss Woolstencroft slumped on the toilet, she felt the baby’s head emerge
Desperate not to have her baby in the loo, she crawled onto the bathroom floor and pushed once more.
“As I sat down on the toilet I felt the baby’s head coming out and told Scott to ring 999,” she said.
“I knew I had to get off the toilet and kneel down on the floor because I didn’t want to have my baby there.
“I went on my knees, pushed once more and she came out, our beautiful baby girl.
“As I held her in my arms, it felt like a surreal moment. It felt unbelievable how quickly it had all happened – and then there she was.”
Around 3.12am Mr Robinson rushed back into the bathroom and saw his partner cradling their new baby – four minutes after her waters burst.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw,” he said. “It happened so quickly and felt so surreal.
“One minute I was on the phone, the next minute Gill had had our baby.
“And she only took two paracetamol. She’s really a super mum.”
Paramedics and Miss Woolstencroft’s mum Jackie, 53, arrived soon after and they travelled to St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester to give birth to the placenta.
And by 1pm that day, Miss Woolstencroft was back at home with her baby Alyssa, weighing a healthy 7lbs 11oz.
“The hospital doctors couldn’t believe I had given birth at home, and so quickly. Everyone was so shocked,” she said.
