A REDDITCH mum has praised the quick thinking and hard work of staff at the Alexandra Hospital after giving birth outside the A&E department.

Sam Holder, from Headless Cross, gave birth to son Hugo at 5.18am on Thursday, May 28, on the pavement just outside A&E.

Her contractions started at 11pm on the Wednesday night and with husband Marc they decided to wait as long as possible before going to the hospital, wanting to be comfortable at home.

The pair went to Alex the following morning, at about 4.50am after the contractions became more painful and closer together.

Five minutes later the couple were at the hospital but the baby decided it was ready to come out - much to shock of Sam and Marc.

"I got out of the car just as my waters broke," she said.

"I managed to take about 10 more steps before my babies head came out.

"My husband ran into A&E to get assistance. About 10 staff as well as paramedics from an ambulance that was outside rushed to my assistance, bringing blankets, towels, gas and air (for which there was no time) and a trolley.

"My baby's shoulders were completely stuck so there was a delay between his head being born and the rest of him being born. I could also feel that the cord was wrapped around his neck. The staff at the Alex were amazing and managed to deliver my baby on the pavement and get him wrapped up and warmed up.

"It felt like an eternity between when he was born and when I heard him cry.

"The midwives had also made it outside to assist by this point and all of the staff worked together to ensure I was ok, and more importantly that my baby was ok."

She added: "Given that I had a long labour with my first baby I thought it would be a while before we would need to go into hospital."

Sam, who is now at home with Marc and baby Hugo, stressed that if it wasn't for the dedicated help she received from staff she doesn't know what would have happened.

"If we didn't have a maternity unit or an A&E in Redditch I would have almost certainly ended up delivering on the side of the road somewhere while trying to make it to Worcester," she said.

"In which case, my baby most definitely wouldn't have received that immediate care that he needed.

"I can't stress how thankful I am to all of the staff, midwives and the A&E department, for not only being there, but for looking after us so well."