Heavens to Betsy... father delivers baby after very quick lesson on internet

A QUICK-THINKING father helped to deliver his baby daughter when his partner went into labour suddenly – after looking up how to do it on the internet.

Jay Waters used his mobile phone to find out how he could help with the birth when his girlfriend Julia Rockett went into labour.

The 34-year-old mother, who has previously experienced quick births with the couple's other two children, gave birth in just 25 minutes after her waters broke at 1am on Boxing Day.

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The couple from Pontefract, who have two other children, Samuel, three, and Scarlett, one, were shocked when their baby, Lisbeth, nicknamed Betsy, arrived in under half an hour.

Mr Waters, 34, said: "I was still up watching TV when I heard Julia moaning. I ran upstairs and thought, it's 'D-Day'.

"It happened so quickly, I looked how to deliver a baby on my phone just in case but within five minutes Lisbeth was on her way.

"The website said to put your hand on the baby's head and catch it, and that was pretty much it.

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"It's a bit hazy now, the adrenaline kicked in. I think we'll be going to hospital next time, if there is a next time."

Ms Rockett said: "As soon as my waters broke I rang the midwife and was told she would be with me in 20 minutes.

"The contractions were coming every minute and Jay thought it might be a good idea to Google 'how to deliver a baby' just in case.

"It turned out to be a very good idea as the baby's head just popped out.

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"There was no warning, Jay saw I was in a lot of pain so he had to take control of the situation.

"I wasn't calm at all, I was a complete wreck but he was absolutely brilliant, and terrified."

There was more drama when the umbilical cord became wrapped round her neck but Mr Waters managed to untangle her.

"Lisbeth didn't cry at all when she was born because she was caught up in the cord. Jay was really frightened because she's so delicate and tiny but he managed it," Ms Rockett said.

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A midwife arrived soon after and mother and baby, who weighed 7lb 6oz, were given the all clear.

Ms Rockett added: "I had been planning a home birth – I was thinking it was going to be all calm and quiet with mood lighting but it wasn't quite like that."

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