Advertisement

Mum names newborn son after paramedic who delivered him at side of the road

A mother who gave birth to a baby boy on the roadside on Wednesday has named him after the paramedic who helped deliver him.

Shontelle Hall was expecting her fourth child shortly after moving into a new home in Zilzie, Central Queensland with her partner Josh Martin and their children.

On the morning of the birth the 23-year-old had a feeling it might be the big day and asked her partner to fill up the car with fuel “just in case”, she told Yahoo News Australia.

Given her previous pregnancies had been fast deliveries and the nearest hospital was 40 minutes away, she felt it was best to prepare ahead of time.

Shortly after her partner left, Ms Hall felt her first contraction and called an ambulance.

Happy and healthy mum and baby Andrew and the paramedic he was named after.
Happy and healthy mum and baby Andrew and the paramedic he was named after. Source: Supplied by Shontelle Hall

By the second contraction, Ms Hall was already in the ambulance on the way to Rockhampton Hospital, with her partner following behind in the family car and paramedics guiding her through the labour.

Halfway to the hospital Ms Hall told paramedic Andrew Green to “get ready, it’s coming within the next three pushes”.

Within minutes, the ambulance had pulled over to the side of the road and before the driver could open the door, Ms Hall’s water broke “all over the walls and ceiling,” she said.

Shontelle Hall says she had just three contractions before baby Andrew was born.
Shontelle Hall says she had just three contractions before baby Andrew was born. Source: Supplied by Shontelle Hall

Mr Martin arrived on the scene just after their healthy baby boy was delivered and happily cut his son’s umbilical cord in the back of the ambulance.

“We kept the sex a surprise, so Josh was very happy,” Ms Hall said of their second boy.

The relieved parents took a few minutes to appreciate the safe birth of their new son before finishing the drive to hospital.

The reality of her swift labour set in when Ms Hall met another pregnant woman in hospital “she had been in labour for 51 hours and needed an emergency caesarean,” Ms Hall told Yahoo News “I felt so bad for her”.

The couple did not have a name for the baby before the birth: “We were waiting to see what name fit,” she said.

Baby Andrew was named after the paramedic who helped deliver him. Source: Supplied/Shontelle Hall
Baby Andrew was named after the paramedic who helped deliver him. Source: Supplied/Shontelle Hall

When the happy father thanked the paramedic who had helped deliver his son he thought of the perfect way to remember his son’s adventurous arrival.

“He told me we were naming him after the paramedic, Andrew and I thought it was a beautiful name,” Ms Hall said.

Just as fast as baby Andrew arrived, he was on his way home with Ms Hall recovering in record time.

“The hospital let me go home after four hours!” she said.

Andrew’s brother and sisters took the new addition to the family in their stride “we are all settled in.”

And as for little Andrew, he will meet the paramedic who helped deliver him in a few days.

“Andrew said he and his fellow paramedic can’t wait to meet the baby.” Ms Hall said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.