Mother hails police after Telford baby drama

Mum Aisha Adamu went into labour on the day of her 35th birthday and the baby had to be delivered by dad Abdul Nasser Adamu, and two passing police officers, on the pavement in Hadley.

Today she spoke of the drama as she recovered from her ordeal at Princess Royal Hospital in Pool Meadow, Telford.

Mrs Adamu said: "It was a surprise. I would like to thank the police officers very much. The woman helped my husband to help take the baby out.

"I would like to thank them very much, God bless them for coming to our aid."

The mum-of-four said all her other children arrived early but none of their arrivals were quite as dramatic as little Mariam's.

Mr Adamu said: "It just happened as the police officers were passing by.

"We went to the hospital first but we went home to get the other children some food and she was sat down and telling me what to do.

"Then she said 'The pain is too much Abdul, the baby is coming'."

Mr Adamu called a taxi to take his wife to hospital but it was going to be 20 minutes until it arrived.

"She went outside and I told her to come back, but the taxi wasn't coming and she said she couldn't wait.

"Then she said the baby was out, I saw the waters. Exactly then the police came by. I took my wife's shirt to wrap the baby in and the police woman helped me hold her."

The two police officers who helped to deliver the baby were Constable Nicola Scott, who has spent 25 years working at Donnington Police Station, and Constable Robert Hughes, Safer Neighbourhood Officer for Hadley and Leegomery.

Constable Scott said: "We were actually driving in a vehicle when he flagged us down. I thought initially he might be lost but then he started saying 'Help, my wife is having a baby, help'. It was quite a cold afternoon so I was just trying to keep her wrapped up and warm and reassure the mother.

"I could hear the baby screaming so I knew she was fine and her airways were open, so it was just keeping her warm.

"I rang the hospital before the end of my shift to check up on them and the midwives on duty said we did a great job. I was pleased to hear today that mother and baby were doing well.

"We said we are going to wait until the family are settled back in at home and then hopefully we will go and visit to see the little girl.

Surprisingly this isn't the first time that Constable Scott has helped with the birth of a baby. She said: "I've been in the force for 27 years and while I was on my probation a lady gave birth on a bus I was on.

"I didn't actually help with the birth but I reassured the mother and kept her calm. And 20 years later here I am again."

Mother and baby were expecting to have a few final checks before they left the hospital. Helping to care for baby Mariam when she gets home will be her seven-year-old brother Adel, four-year-old sister Nabila and 17-month-old Saada.

The family, who are originally from Ghana but have also lived in Spain and Norway, only moved to Telford in August. Maggie Kenneley, lead midwife at the Princess Royal, said: "Childbirth is not an exact science so some babies do arrive earlier than anticipated. A small number of women will experience sudden and very quick labour and birth.

"I'd like to say well done to residents and the community who supported her."