One Laois mother thought she was going to deliver her New Year’s Day baby daughter while crossing the River Shannon, but made the University Maternity Hospital Limerick just in the nick of time.
Margaret Earle gave birth to a baby girl at around 2.50am, but not before a frantic dash to the hospital.
She said her waters began to break while she was doing the washing up after dinner in a relative’s house in Newport, Co Tipperary, on New Year’s Eve.
“I thought it was a false alarm, so I just ignored it. I went to bed and woke up around 1am, and the rest is history.”
She told the Irish Mirror, “I just got here on time. It was very, very close. I was starting to kind of push as we crossed the river,” said Ms Earle, who has two sons Eoin (6) and Cian (4).
She praised her husband Ed, who broughy her from his family’s home in Newport to Limerick just in the nick of time.
“Poor Ed…I’d say he was really nervous. He said he was grand…up until we reached Annacotty. I must have started shouting then. The pain intensified.
“Ed did great. He pulled open the door and I could feel the baby coming then. I could feel the pressure at that stage.”
All well
Both mother and baby are doing well.
“I’m feeling great, euphoric, but tired,” said Margaret.
The baby girl arrived into the world ten days overdue, weighing 7lbs 8oz.
“She was long awaited; the first girl into the family. Her big brothers are delighted. They were on the phone to me this morning and they can’t wait to get in to see her,” Margaret added.
