A CHATSWORTH teenager almost lost her life and that of her newborn baby after she waited more than two hours, with the umbilical cord still attached, for paramedics to arrive.
The 17-year-old, from Silverglen, gave birth to a girl at her landlord’s house last Tuesday. She had experienced labour pains from about 1am and assumed it was Braxton Hicks contractions.
Her boyfriend, 24, said by 8am the pain intensified and she went to her landlord’s house to call for an ambulance.
“At 9am, her water broke and the baby was delivered by 9.15am. By then, her mother had arrived and was on the second call to the emergency number, requesting an ambulance.
“The first time they said they were on their way. This time, the person on the line was explaining to her mom how to sterilise scissors and cut the umbilical cord.
“But everyone was in a state of panic. As they scrambled to find the correct instruments and sterilise them, it was about 10.15am when a private ambulance service, Amawele Emergency Services, responded,” said the boyfriend.
Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said when paramedics arrived at the home, they found the young girl lying on the floor in the lounge, in a pool of blood with the baby in front of her, and the umbilical cord still attached.
“The baby was turning blue and hypothermia was setting in. We had to wrap the baby in foil to keep her warm and insulated until we reached the hospital. We were lucky to have got to the young mom and her newborn in time,” Subramodey said.
The young mom said she just prayed for God to keep her baby safe.
The boyfriend said it was touch and go as they waited for the medical help.
He said the shortage of ambulances in Chatsworth needed addressing.