SA’s Cutest Toddler: Dad delivers baby on the bedroom floor

Brendan and Bianca Frew had just become homeowners when their baby, who was not due for another two months, decided to make an early entrance.

Brendan and Bianca Frew had just received the keys to their new house in Warradale when a surprise roommate made an early entrance.

At 30 weeks pregnant, Ms Frew thought she had some time to settle in before welcoming her baby.

However, the baby had other plans.

“I woke up at about four o’clock in the morning and I went to the toilet and I was like, oh my god, I think that’s the baby’s head,” Ms Frew said.

“I hadn’t had a baby before so I didn’t know the symptoms of labour so it was the last thing on my mind.”

A panicked Ms Frew woke her husband to ask him to take her to the hospital but after she produced a “guttural scream”, Mr Frew knew they did not have much time.

“I called triple-0 for an ambulance and was going through everything with them and then while we were on the phone, her water broke,” Mr Frew said.

Brendan and Bianca Frew with son Sam, 20 months. Sam is an entrant in The Advertiser's Cutest Toddler Competition. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

That’s when the operator told him he’d need to deliver the baby himself.

Mr Frew, who had no experience delivering babies, was told to prepare for the birth by finding some clean towels, which was easier said than done given the couple’s possessions were still in boxes.

“I ran around the house and tipped about five or six boxes down looking for a towel and couldn’t find any,” he said.

“I ended up just grabbing my towel off the shower and the triple-0 operators sort of directed me from there in terms of having to catch the baby when it came out.”

Ten minutes after Mr Frew had managed to deliver tiny baby Sam, who at two months premature only weighed 1.6 kgs, the ambulance arrived.

“It was the first time I had ever been in the ambulance with the sirens blaring,” Mr Frew said.

“They took us up to Flinders through the emergency department and as we walked in there were people sitting around in masks as it was the height of Covid so we walked in with no mask on, blood all over us, carrying a baby, shell-shocked.

“It must have been quite the sight for everyone sitting there.”

Baby Sam spent the first eight weeks of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Flinders Medical Centre – with Covid restrictions meaning his mum and dad were unable to introduce him to his family.

Fortunately, Flinders’ NICU had installed cameras for parents and friends to watch the baby from home.

“We nicknamed it Sam Cam,” Mr Frew said.

“We shared the link around with family and friends and a lot of people said they sort of found it mesmerising in a way when they were just sitting there watching him.”

Baby Sam spent the first eight weeks of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Flinders Medical Centre. Picture: Supplied.

Now just over a year old, Sam has grown into a “cheeky” boy who loves keeping his parents on their toes.

“He loves playing with balls and cars and is quite animated,” Ms Frew said.

Since the unexpected birth, the Frews have had their once brand new bedroom carpet professionally cleaned.

“I am still contemplating getting it ripped up and getting a little bit cut out and framed for (Sam) for his 21st,” Mr Frew said.

“We definitely christened the house,” Ms Frew added.

Now just over a year old, Sam has grown into a “cheeky” boy who loves keeping his parents on their toes. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Sam is among more than 250 entrants in The Advertiser’s Cutest Toddler Competition.

If you or someone you know is raising an adorable little person between the ages of 1-3 who you think deserves the title, nominate below. Nominations will close on May 7 at 8am, with finalists being put to a vote.

You must be a digital subscriber to vote. One only vote per subscriber will be recorded.

The winner will be revealed at a later date. Read the full terms and conditions here.