Western Sydney paramedics deliver baby girl born two weeks early

Two rookie paramedics experienced a milestone early on in their careers when they delivered a healthy baby girl born two weeks early who couldn’t wait to arrive into the world.

Paramedic Geoff Edwards with baby Rosie-May who he helped deliver

Two rookie Paramedics experienced a milestone early on in their careers when one baby girl from western Sydney just couldn’t wait to arrive into the world.

Geoff Edwards and Tamara Westlake, from Tregear Ambulance station, were called on January 2 after Coylton mother Elisha Hands started experiencing intense labour pains.

“We were just at home like normal and I started to feel a bit off. So I told Brendan to get the car and called my mum,” Ms Hands said.

Ms Hands said she soon realised her baby, who was due on the 11th, wasn’t waiting to be born in a hospital bed so she instructed her partner Brendan Burnham to call an ambulance.

Paramedic Tamara Westlake with baby Rosie-May

Paramedic Geoff Edwards with baby Rosie-May

Mr Burnham said the triple-0 operator told him what to do while he waited for the ambulance.

“I called the ambulance and they were walking me through what to do, they told me to take a look and then I saw the baby’s head,” he said.

Luckily for Mr Burnham the ambulance arrived soon after he made the call.

“I think she was holding on for them to arrive, once they walked in she said relaxed and the baby came out,” he recalled.

Upon arriving Mr Edwards and Ms Westlakes - who are two months, and one year into their respective careers - put their gloves on, sprung into action remembering their training and it wasn’t long before they were welcoming Rosie-May into the world.

Mr Burnham said he was overwhelmed with emotion at the time.

“I remember I stood up to get out of the way and when I did he [Geoff] just reached out and caught the baby,” he said

“It was so amazing I was so overwhelmed by the situation, it was a very eye opening experience having all the ambulance staff there.”

Newborn Rosie-May with the paramedics who helped deliver her and parents Elisha Hands and Brendan Burnham

Ms Hands says she “wasn’t too nervous” knowing her baby was in good hands.

“Once I saw the ambulance arrive I was relieved. It was a very overwhelming experience but I’d do it again,” she said.

Ms Westlake described the birth as “both exciting and nerve-racking”.

“It's an experience that doesn’t come along very often on the road so it was really special to be honest,” she said.

Mr Edwards expressed similar sentiments.

“Full deliveries are not very common at all, a lot of jobs paramedics go to the baby's already been born, so this is quite rare,” he said.

Both paramedics described their relief once they realised Rosie-May was born healthy and without any complications.

“I felt this sense of accomplishment and relief that everything went really well with no complications,” Mr Edwards said.

Following Rosie May’s arrival, mum and bub were taken in the ambulance to Nepean hospital. They are now doing well alongside their family at home.