Alice Violet Jones was born in the front passenger seat because Hannah, who was traveling with Lewis Jones, 32, and his father, left earlier than normal but still didn’t make it to the hospital in time. The father-in-car was accompanied by the police. Since Hannah Dade was aware of how quickly she went into labor when she gave birth to her first child Rosie, she decided to leave her Barry home at five minutes instead of the three to four minutes recommended for pregnancy. They have plenty of time to get to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
It moves so quickly and strangely that it almost feels like a movie. Two days before her due date, on April 14, my wife’s first contractions began. The weather is lovely today as Hannah plays in the garden with her oldest child. We shot these lovely photos as a keepsake together. I quickly recognized something was wrong as I examined my swellies, and contractions began to flow. We live about 20 minutes from Heath, and when my contractions started coming every three to four minutes, we were informed we needed to leave to get there.
Because my wife’s first daughter was delivered quite rapidly, my wife and I decided to go to the hospital sooner than we had planned. We tried to move earlier this time because I lost 10 cm while traveling at the time. Hannah gave birth on the way to the hospital. In order to wait for the ambulance to come, people stopped along the side of the road. The police officers came over to where I was seated and assured me that they would give us the go-ahead so we could arrive at the hospital on time. Four vehicles with sirens were moving in front of and behind ours to warn other drivers of priority lanes. I was aware of everything going on at the moment since the labor started quickly. Between contractions, I could see police cars all around. There was an ambulance waiting in front of the hospital to prepare to pick up the family. Upon arrival Hannah said doctors tried to encourage her to use a wheelchair, but she said it was too late and the baby appeared to be coming out.
Arriving at the hospital 6 minutes, the baby girl was born in the front seat of the car parked outside the antenatal ward. Everything was great, the baby was delivered safely and laid on my chest. My mother and I were put on the bed and pushed into the hospital. She was still attached to the umbilical cord, when she entered the delivery room she was cut and I was skin-to-skin with my daughter.
Alice was born at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, weighing 7lb 2oz, and she and Hannah spent another night in the hospital room before going home on Thursday.
The couple would want to thank the wonderful midwives and staff at the University Hospital of Wales’ maternity section, saying, “You honestly have no idea how much your professionalism and kindness are appreciated. I greatly appreciate it.
