HEALTHCARE assistant Leanne Tighe, aged 38, was expecting her third child to be born in good time for Christmas.

What she did not expect, was to give birth under her Christmas tree on the living room floor of her Williton home in the space of just 25 minutes.

Nor had she planned for neighbour and best friend Ashley Brooke to deliver baby Amelia, who will be known as Mimi.

Leanne Tighe (right) with baby Amelia, whom best friend Ashley Brooke delivered on the living room floor of her Williton home.
Leanne Tighe (right) with baby Amelia, whom best friend Ashley Brooke delivered on the living room floor of her Williton home. (George Ody)

Leanne’s due date was December 2, but at about 6.30 am on Thursday (November 30) her waters broke and she called Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, to tell the midwives she would be going in when partner Cameron Lawlor returned from his night shift.

But instead, she was able to send Mr Lawlor a photograph of baby Mimi via her mobile phone while he was still on a bus home from Crowcombe Court, and he arrived just in time to cut the umbilical chord.

Leanne, of Croft Court, told the Free Press: “I had slept on the sofa and woken up with contractions about 4.30 am but because they were nine minutes apart, they do not class it as established labour until they are down to five minutes.

Cameron Lawlor and partner Leanne Tighe with daughter Amelia, who was born under the Christmas tree in their living room.
Cameron Lawlor and partner Leanne Tighe with daughter Amelia, who was born under the Christmas tree in their living room. (George Ody)

“Then I had four close together and I phoned Musgrove to ask about going in and as I was on my phone my waters broke and they said to make my way in.

“As I changed position, that made baby start to come and I needed to push.”

Leanne’s 14-year-old daughter Ruby was just getting ready for school and as she came downstairs baby Mimi’s head was already out.

Ruby immediately called for help from Ashley, who lives across the road.

Leanne said: “I had spoken to Ashley half-an-hour before and she expected to walk in and see me walking around with contractions.

“She was not expecting me to be on my hands and knees and baby’s head to be hanging out.

“So, Ashley got onto her knees and delivered baby under instructions from the nurse who had stayed on the phone with us.

“She was delivered on the living room floor right in front of my Christmas tree.

“I guess if there is one way to cement a friendship, then delivering your friend’s baby must be right up there.

“The nurse on the phone was amazing and I would love to find out who she was, and the paramedics who came as well.

Baby Amelia with mum Leanne Tighe and proud nan Jodie Slater.
Baby Amelia with mum Leanne Tighe and proud nan Jodie Slater. (George Ody)

“If they read this and can get in touch I would love to thank them properly.”

Two double-crewed ambulances were sent while Leanne’s baby was being delivered but arrived 17 minutes afterwards.

Mum and baby were then taken into Musgrove for checks, where Mimi weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs 8 oz.

Leanne, who also has a son Jay, aged 17, said her shortest labour had been eight hours, so it was a complete shock to have a baby in just 25 minutes.

She said: “There was no clue that anything like this was going to happen.

Pictured (left to right) with baby Amelia are nan Jodie Slater, dad Cameron Lawlor, mum Leanne Tighe, best friend and stand-in midwife Ashley Brooke and her son Hudson.
Pictured (left to right) with baby Amelia are nan Jodie Slater, dad Cameron Lawlor, mum Leanne Tighe, best friend and stand-in midwife Ashley Brooke and her son Hudson. (George Ody)

“Everybody was saying gosh, I did it without pain relief, but it was so quick I did not have time to think about it.

“I was just worried about the head and I was panicking a bit and was not registering pain or anything because I was trying to hang on until the paramedics got there.

“But once the head came out I knew I had to concentrate and get it together and stay calm.”