Mum who gave birth in St Thomas' car park thanks hospital colleagues

Adebisi Adedayo, 35, of South Bermondsey, arrived at the hospital by taxi with her husband but the labour was so advanced she knew there was no time to reach the delivery unit.

"On the journey to the hospital I was praying that the traffic would be good so that we could get there as quickly as possible," recalls Adebisi.

"I had my eyes closed and was thinking 'we must be nearly there' but when I opened them I realised we weren't and shouted to the driver 'go, go, go!'.

"As we pulled into the car park I knew that I wouldn't make it to the delivery unit so my husband ran up there to see if he could get help. I got out the car and shouted to a porter that I was having a baby and needed help."

The porter, Brian Johnson, ran into the patient transport office and explained what was happening.

Annette Pursey, a receptionist in the office, was first on the scene. She said: "I told Brian to phone the birth centre crash team and bring some clean blankets or sheets outside. I grabbed some gloves and ran out to the taxi."

By this point Adebisi was lying across the front seat and about to give birth. "I was worried that the baby would just fall out and onto the floor", said Adebisi.

Annette arranged the blankets beneath the baby and also called out to the staff minibus for help. A young doctor came off the bus and also assisted.

Annette said: "I could see the baby's head very clearly and just told the mum to stay calm. After a couple of pushes the baby came out and I caught her in a blanket. It was a very cold day and she wasn't breathing at first but the doctor blew a small breath into her mouth and she started to cry. The crash team then arrived and took the mother and baby up to the ward. It was a pretty amazing experience, and I was glad to be part of delivering a baby for the first time."

Adebisi and her new daughter Priscilla, who was born on 18 April weighing 7.9 pounds, are both doing well now despite the unusual birth.

Adebisi, who works as a clerk at St Thomas', said: "I am so grateful to Annette and the other people who helped on that day. Priscilla is doing well and has put on ten pounds since then and we are all delighted. It was stressful at the time but it is certainly something I can look back on now and laugh. I have three children now and I think Priscilla will be the last!"