When Lisa Leavey felt a few niggling pains, she initially didn’t think it was anything to worry about. She was already a mother of one and expecting her second son, and she believed she would be able to predict the beginning of labor.
However, things really picked up speed, and Lisa found herself giving birth in her front garden as she was walking to her car to head to the hospital when she realized the baby was coming. Her husband Emmett, 31, ended up delivering their second son Michael as she lay on the lawn.
The 33-year-old explains: “I noticed I was having a few niggles and put it down to Braxton hicks.
“I knew labour can take a while, so I just pottered around the house and at 9pm we rang the hospital, letting them know we were on our way. We live a few minutes away from the hospital, so my husband and I thought we had loads of time to get there.”
But when she walked outside to the car, she realised Michael was in a huge rush to meet them.
She adds: “There was no way I was getting into the car. Emmett tried to get me back into the house, but baby Michael was born within minutes and arrived right there on our front lawn. Emmett helped deliver him, catching him as he came out.”
Apart from having to go through the pregnancy during the pandemic, the couple, who are originally from Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, but now reside in Brisbane, Australia, had a simple pregnancy.
Lisa says: “Being pregnant during a pandemic was hard, as restrictions were put into place with hospital visits and appointments. I was also considered an essential worker being a social worker, continuing my work with vulnerable families throughout my pregnancy.”
“I had an induction with my first son due to him being 10 days overdue and my labour lasted 5 hours, which is considered quite quick for a first-time mother. With the second pregnancy, I did not know what to expect as I wanted to go for a more natural birth.”
But Michael was right on time and eager to meet them, arriving on the lawn before the ambulance even had time to arrive.
Lisa adds: “20 minutes later the paramedics arrived, surprised the baby had been delivered already. Once they checked Michael was okay, Emmett was able to cut his cord.”
Family and friends back in Northern Ireland have enjoyed hearing the tale of Baby Michael’s dramatic birth, even though he is doing well and the family of four is settling nicely.
