Fife mum reunited with paramedics after dramatic birth in layby

A Fife mum who gave birth in a layby has been reunited with the paramedics who helped her deliver her second child.

Keryn Laver, from Oakley, was pregnant with her second child and was due to give birth on March 11.

However, a couple of days before her due date, the 39-year-old phoned Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy to say that contractions had started and were happening around every two minutes.

She said: "The hospital told me to get in fast. The contractions got closer together and I phoned a babysitter.

"The babysitter took about 20 minutes to arrive at our home – the contractions were coming so fast and then my water broke as I was getting into the car.

"Around 1 mile down the road, there was a little layby near the Carnock Inn, but it's still big enough to get two cars in.

"My husband, Jules called 999 at around 8.45pm – they said they would send an ambulance as quickly as they could."

The paramedic crew, on their first job for the night, helped deliver the baby at 9.03pm.

Keryn added: "Holding this little baby, I was full of joy. I think for my husband it was a huge relief that he did not have to deliver it. He had to drive himself to the hospital, but he saw the baby being born.

"Jules took some time to compose himself, he was keeping it together, but it was so close to him having to deliver the baby in the car. He had to keep calm, but once the crew arrived, he could enjoy the birth and then all the emotions hit."

Keryn continued: “The crew was really surprised, and they were very good with both of us; they were joking with me, and supportive of Jules. They gave me whatever I needed.”

Paramedics Andrew Paterson and Richard Garside are based at Dunfermline. Andrew gave Keldan a knitted beanie, made by his grandmother, and kept in the back of the ambulance for such occasions.

As a thank you, the mum sent the crew a card to thank them and let them know Keldan was healthy.

Last week, on Thursday, June 21, was the first time Keldan had met the crew.

Keryn said: “It was great to see Richard and Andy again. In the card I sent, I thanked them for helping our baby boy into the world. It was a very, very memorable birth and I am absolutely pleased it turned out the way it did. We are lucky it was very straight forward.”

Keldan’s birth certificate lists the location as Carnock Road.

Richard, who has since been seconded to Helimed 76 as an air ambulance paramedic, said: "We were just in time to be able to get mum into the ambulance where the baby was born.

"A couple of minutes slower and the baby would have been born in the car footwell.

"All went well and the baby got a wee hat knitted by Andy’s gran".