It’s every expecting couple’s nightmare, but 20-year-old Owen Reen handled it like a pro when he delivered his baby son five weeks ahead of schedule at the side of the road.
At 7pm last Friday, Owen’s partner, Rebecca Cremin (23) had asked him to rush her to Kerry University Hospital in Tralee. However, baby Jayden had other ideas and Ms Cremin’s waters broke en route, forcing dad-to-be Owen, from Rathmore in Co. Kerry, to make a brave choice.
Pulling over to the hard shoulder, Owen frantically phoned his sister Edel, who gave birth last year, for advice. Soon he was on the phone with the paramedics – but his battery was failing fast.
Luckily, the power lasted just long enough for medics to talk him through the birth of his son – just 40 minutes into the journey to the hospital.
Owen told the Irish Independent:
“Jayden was not due for another five weeks when Rebecca realised that we needed to get to the hospital quickly.
“She was getting severe labour pains.
“What made it terrifying was that my phone had not been charged overnight.
“I just had a single bar left on the battery.”
By the time the ambulance reached the couple, baby Jayden had arrived and Owen had tied off his first umbilical cord.
“When they contacted me they advised me that I would not make it to KUH and it was better to stop and deliver the baby myself.” Owen said.
“The paramedic on the phone was fantastic and helped me to remain calm throughout.
“We are really so grateful for all his help during the delivery.
“It all happened so fast I really did not have time to panic.
Baby Jayden is doing well in Kerry University Hospital and is expected to be discharged to his delighted parents soon. The takeaway? Keep those phones charged up, daddies. You never know when you might need them!
Did your baby arrive a lot faster than planned? Tell us your birth story on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
Main image: Dominick Walsh/ Irish Independent
