A Newcastle father has delivered both of his daughters in surprise home births four years apart. John Anderson, 39, helped his partner Adele Crisp, 34, deliver their second daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at their home in Walker, Newcastle, on August 14, after she went into active labour unexpectedly.
Crisp, a full-time mother, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, but had already entered active labour.
Anderson helped Crisp to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered the couple's daughter at 3.55am, according to reports from Chronicle Live.
Crisp described the experience as like "déjà vu", as four years earlier, Anderson had delivered their first daughter, Georgia, in the same house after she arrived nearly six weeks early in March 2022. On both occasions, Anderson had to help with the births as his daughters arrived unexpectedly quickly, just minutes before paramedics reached the family.
Saige-Elizabeth spent a week in hospital being treated for jaundice but is now home with her elder sister. Crisp said: "It's crazy this happened not only once, but twice. They both arrived really quickly, at the same house, and John had to catch both of the babies. It felt like déjà vu. You couldn't make it up."
Crisp discovered she was expecting their first daughter when she was 28 weeks pregnant in January 2022. Six weeks later, when she was 34 weeks and two days along, her waters broke on March 4, 2022. She was advised to monitor the contractions but noticed them speeding up more quickly than anticipated, going into active labour in the bathroom.
Anderson, who was employed in a call centre at the time, called an ambulance and was talked through the delivery on the phone. Georgia weighed 5lb 5oz and remained in hospital for 12 days on a feeding tube and breathing support after arriving prematurely. The Daily Express reported that Georgia weighed 5lb 5oz, while the Evening Chronicle reported she weighed 5lb.
During her second pregnancy, Crisp developed gestational diabetes and was scheduled to be induced on August 19, but her waters broke on August 14. Anderson called an ambulance despite being told to get a taxi, and delivered Saige-Elizabeth, who weighed 6lb 5oz, according to The Daily Star.
The Daily Express reported that Saige-Elizabeth weighed 5lb 5oz and spent one night in the neonatal intensive care unit receiving treatment for jaundice and breathing support, followed by six additional days on a ward. The Evening Chronicle reported that Saige-Elizabeth spent a week in hospital being treated for jaundice and is now home.