Paramedics praised for home delivery

On 15 August 2012 Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz together with newly qualified Paramedic Ben Terry from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust's (SCAS) Wexham Resource Centre responded to an address in Windsor where 31 year old Kerry Wallis had gone into labour with her second child.

Steve and Ben arrived on scene 8 minutes after SCAS' Emergency Operations Centre in Bicester took the call to find Kerry experiencing contractions just one minute apart with, her baby's head crowning. Steve and Ben called Kerry's midwife as Kerry had originally planned to have her baby at Wexham Park and was taken by surprise by how quickly her labour progressed.

With the midwife stuck in traffic 40 minutes away from the scene Ben attended to Kerry helped by Steve and Kerry's partner 37 year old Neil Flynn.

SCAS Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz continues the story:

'It quickly became apparent to us that the baby was experiencing serious problems. The baby's head was born, but the shoulders were stuck and the baby was turning purple. We immediately realised that this was a form of obstructive labour known as Shoulder Dystocia and that this could be a time critical emergency. Shoulder Dystocia occurs in less than 1% of births and the vast majority of those births take place in hospital. Carefully I managed to manipulate the baby's shoulders out and 9lb 10oz Laramae was born at 16:40.

'Once Laramae was out Ben immediately started to rub her with a dry towel to stimulate her breathing, I gave her a couple of inflation breaths and she started crying. Laramae quickly improved and was placed on Kerry so she could see her. I was pleased to be able to tell Kerry and Neil that their new baby was a girl as they had wanted the sex of their baby to be a surprise. We let Neil cut the cord and hold his new daughter. The midwife arrived some 40 minutes later.'

The ambulance crew transferred Laramae and her parents to the waiting ambulance. Steve Kurtz drove the ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital as Ben Terry continued to care for little Laramae in the back of the ambulance. Laramae was checked at hospital as a precaution and found to be unharmed - injuries can occur during deliveries where Shoulder Dystocia occurs.'

Proud parents Kerry Wallis and Neil Flynn said:

'Steve and Ben did an amazing job without the midwife present responding very quickly to the difficult situation and making us both feel at ease. Steve did all the right things at the right time and in spite of her ordeal baby Laramae was born unharmed in any way.

'Steve's wife and children must be very proud of him. We hope he keeps on doing what he's doing for many years as the world needs people like him.'

Laramae is a sister to two and a half year old Jessica Flynn and is now safely back home with her parents.

SCAS Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz said:

'This was by far the most difficult birth I have been involved with. Ben and I are delighted that we were able to help Kerry and Neil with the birth of their beautiful baby girl.'

Published 28 August 2012