In labour with her fourth pregnancy at her Pambula home, Rebecca Nelson’s irregular contractions had her thinking she had time for a shower before the ambulance arrived to take her to Bega Hospital.
That was until her waters broke.
When the ambulance arrived 20 minutes later, the 24-year-old and her new daughter Ruth were recovering in the family bathtub after sister-in-law Karen Nelson helped with the DIY home birth.
Rebecca’s husband Andrew stayed on the 000 line throughout the ordeal.
It was a frightening time with Rebecca at high risk of haemorrhage due to previous caesareans.
“I was thinking ‘what happens if something goes wrong?’” Rebecca said this week.
Rebecca had swatted up on emergency home births knowing the distance she would have had to travel to get to Bega Hospital.
She even did a first aid course with Karen the day before Ruth was born.
“I strongly suggest it for other women,” she said.
“It’s better to have information about it, than have it happen and not be prepared.
Within ten hours of making it to Bega Hospital, Rebecca chose to discharge herself.
“It’s not private. You’re meant to be bonding with your baby and it’s meant to be as relaxed as possible and a momentous occasion,” she said.
Rebecca was also concerned about sharing bathrooms with other patients.
“I felt like there was higher risk of infection.”
Rebecca thanked the Ambulance Service of New South Wales who were “just brilliant” and also the nurses who “do their best but are very stretched”.
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