Woman gives birth in Ford Mondeo while stuck in traffic on the way to hospital
- 9 days ago
A woman gave birth to her baby in the front seat of her Ford Mondeo - after getting stuck in traffic on the way to hospital.
Demi Clark, 22, was 40 weeks pregnant when she began getting cramps, indicating she was going into labour.
Demi jumped into the car with her partner Daniel Moy, 32, and her mum Maria Clark, 41, and they sped off to Sunderland Royal Hospital.
But on the way the family, from Whiteleas, South Shields, got stuck in traffic crossing Sunderland Bridge.
At the same moment Demi began getting strong contractions and felt the urge to push.
In standstill traffic, Demi had no choice but to labour in the front seat while Maria, who had no medical training, helped deliver from the back seat.
Baby Delilah, Demi's third child, was born weighing 7lbs 13oz.
She had to be wrapped in a jacket until they finally arrived in hospital by ambulance.
Delilah spent some time in hospital before being discharged - and is now at home with her family.
Demi, a stay-at-home mum, said: "It was crazy and a blur - I can only remember little bits when I look back now.
"I remember seeing my partner running through traffic waving his arms asking for help.
"When I started contracting I couldn't help it, I needed to push - and I could already see the head coming out.
"Delilah just flew out after that - it was all over in five minutes!
"The car was a mess afterwards but we laughed about it - it just feels so surreal that I actually gave birth in a traffic jam."
Demi, also mum to Dryden, three, and Raven, one, woke up on April 8 with cramps and lost her mucus plug soon after.
The family jumped in the car but on the way, they got stuck behind roadworks and lorries transporting heavy goods.
Demi tried to ignore the contractions growing stronger as Maria, a painter and decorator, encouraged her not to push until they arrived.
But eventually, in standstill traffic, she had no choice - so whipped off her pants and began to give birth.
Demi said: "I had one leg on the door and I was leaning on the hand break, and my hand was on the driving seat.
"As I was pushing, I was trying to take my jacket off because I needed something to wrap her in.
"My mum was in the back seat and she had to climb over me to get out to help because the back doors had child-locks on."
After the birth another driver who was also stuck in traffic called an ambulance for them.
Demi was blue-lighted to hospital, where she delivered the placenta.
Because baby Delilah swallowed some blood during birth she had to stay in the neonatal unit for eight days until she could feed normally.
She was discharged on April 14 and has been loving getting to know her older siblings.
Demi said: "The first births were nothing like this - it happened so quickly.
"Delilah was the easiest of them all - and I gave birth to her in a car!
"Mum has no medical background but she has nine children herself so she knows something about birth.
Demi Clark, 22, was 40 weeks pregnant when she began getting cramps, indicating she was going into labour.
Demi jumped into the car with her partner Daniel Moy, 32, and her mum Maria Clark, 41, and they sped off to Sunderland Royal Hospital.
But on the way the family, from Whiteleas, South Shields, got stuck in traffic crossing Sunderland Bridge.
At the same moment Demi began getting strong contractions and felt the urge to push.
In standstill traffic, Demi had no choice but to labour in the front seat while Maria, who had no medical training, helped deliver from the back seat.
Baby Delilah, Demi's third child, was born weighing 7lbs 13oz.
She had to be wrapped in a jacket until they finally arrived in hospital by ambulance.
Delilah spent some time in hospital before being discharged - and is now at home with her family.
Demi, a stay-at-home mum, said: "It was crazy and a blur - I can only remember little bits when I look back now.
"I remember seeing my partner running through traffic waving his arms asking for help.
"When I started contracting I couldn't help it, I needed to push - and I could already see the head coming out.
"Delilah just flew out after that - it was all over in five minutes!
"The car was a mess afterwards but we laughed about it - it just feels so surreal that I actually gave birth in a traffic jam."
Demi, also mum to Dryden, three, and Raven, one, woke up on April 8 with cramps and lost her mucus plug soon after.
The family jumped in the car but on the way, they got stuck behind roadworks and lorries transporting heavy goods.
Demi tried to ignore the contractions growing stronger as Maria, a painter and decorator, encouraged her not to push until they arrived.
But eventually, in standstill traffic, she had no choice - so whipped off her pants and began to give birth.
Demi said: "I had one leg on the door and I was leaning on the hand break, and my hand was on the driving seat.
"As I was pushing, I was trying to take my jacket off because I needed something to wrap her in.
"My mum was in the back seat and she had to climb over me to get out to help because the back doors had child-locks on."
After the birth another driver who was also stuck in traffic called an ambulance for them.
Demi was blue-lighted to hospital, where she delivered the placenta.
Because baby Delilah swallowed some blood during birth she had to stay in the neonatal unit for eight days until she could feed normally.
She was discharged on April 14 and has been loving getting to know her older siblings.
Demi said: "The first births were nothing like this - it happened so quickly.
"Delilah was the easiest of them all - and I gave birth to her in a car!
"Mum has no medical background but she has nine children herself so she knows something about birth.