Special delivery as baby is born in hospital car park

Simon Monaghan went back to his day job after stepping in as an emergency midwife when his wife went into labour.

Claire Monaghan started getting contractions at about 1pm on Thursday – 15 minutes later the couple knew it was time to contact a midwife.

They began driving to Darlington Memorial Hospital, but realised they were too late to reach the maternity ward.

And at about 1.45pm in the ambulance bay of the hospital, Mr Monaghan helped bring his new son Miles Thomas Monaghan into the world.

Mr Monaghan said last night: “It was the best feeling ever. I never stopped to think what was going on for one second.

I could see the baby’s head and remembered from the birth of my last child that I had to support his neck.”

“I just shouted at someone to get a midwife, it was a little manic.

“We had the ambulance bay like a little hospital. The staff brought curtains out and I cut the umbilical cord.”

Mrs Monaghan and Miles are both fit and well and returned home from hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Monaghan said: “There was no real reason to keep them in hospital, but we think Miles may have developed a bit of a chill due to being born outside.

“We sat in the car with the heaters on afterwards to keep him warm. It really was a remarkable event.”

He added: “When Claire went into labour at around 1pm we didn’t think it was anything serious.

“We had a child before and had been to all the parenting classes.

“Obviously we weren’t expecting it to turn out like this, but it was very exciting.

“Afterwards I was thinking what have I just done? I have just delivered my own son.

How many people can say that?”

Mr Monaghan is landlord of the Londonderry Arms, in Long Newton, between Darlington and Stockton, but despite his exhausting week he continued to pull pints over the bank holiday weekend.

He said: “The weekend has been busy and it’s my pub, so I have got to work but once it’s over I’ll be taking some time out to spend with the family. I cannot wait.”