Couple give birth to firstborn in passenger seat of Jag

Ruth Whiffin and Matthew Howe with their daughter Eliza Rose who was born in their Jahuar car.

A COUPLE who were told they had hours before their child was due to be born had to make an emergency stop to welcome their daughter in the passenger seat of their car.

Matthew Howe, 44, was driving to hospital when his partner Ruth Whiffin, 39, went into labour in their Jaguar.

The couple had been driving just five minutes when Matthew leapt into action to deliver his firstborn, named Eliza Rosie.

Their bundle of joy was born on the A61 Derby Road, Derbyshire and weighed 5lb 14oz.

The new mum was in a yoga class in the evening when she started having mild contractions.

She said: “Doctors advised us that we had hours to wait as this was our first baby and we should stay at home, keep well hydrated and get some rest.

“However, within the space of 20 minutes, the contractions had intensified so we decided to get in the car and head to Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

“My waters broke five minutes later and 15 minutes after that Matthew had to make an emergency stop at the side of the road.

“He ran round to the passenger side and after a couple of pushes he caught her — he did a fantastic job.”

The couple, of Alfreton, said they will never forget their new arrival and both mum and baby are doing well.

Ruth, an events organiser, and Matthew, a sound and video technician, said: “It was all very dramatic and a night we certainly wont forget in a hurry.

Ruth said both her and baby were doing “very well” after the “very natural birth”.

She added: “We love our cars so it was a very fitting way of her entering the world.”