Greenvale dad Mete Karan delivers his daughter at home

When this Greenvale mum’s water broke at home, she didn’t know it would be just minutes before she’d be holding her newborn. And neither did her husband, who quickly realised he’d be delivering their daughter while their young son slept nearby.

Mete and Natasha Karan, with Elijah and baby Sofia. Picture: Rob Leeson

Newborn Sofia Karan was in such a rush to enter the world that she was delivered by her dad in the family’s Greenvale home.

In the space of seven minutes, mum Natasha’s water broke and Sofia arrived, leaving dad Mete no chance of getting them to hospital in time.

Born at 12.57am on August 8, Mr Karan said he started panicking when he saw his daughter’s blue face.

“I’m on the phone to the ambulance and he’s telling me what to do,” he said.

Parents Mete and Natasha Karan with their second child and first daughter Sofia. Picture: Rob Leeson.

“The next contraction the entire body came out in one hit — I’m literally holding a phone in one hand and I caught her in the other.”

The two-week-old is the couple’s second child but Mr Karan said they weren’t expecting it to happen so quickly after their one-year-old son Elijah’s labour took 12 hours.

The real estate agent said Sofia’s head started crowning only a minute after his wife’s water broke at 12.50am.

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“The best thing was when she first came out she let out a cry, so it was like a sigh of relief that she’s OK, she’s breathing,” he said.

“I guess the adrenaline at the time kind of masks a lot of feelings but the real panic point for me was when I’d seen her face.

“She was upside down and her face was blue. It’s one thing delivering but it’s another thing if something goes wrong I’m not really in a position to do much.”

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Despite all the screaming Elijah slept through the whole birth and Mr Karan said they couldn’t leave for the hospital straight away as they were waiting for Natasha’s mum to arrive to look after him.

Ms Karan said her husband handled the situation so well and looking back it was a great experience to be able to give birth at home.

“It was a very quick experience, he kept very calm throughout the whole thing,” she said.

“The serious part was feeling the head because I knew at that point I couldn’t go anywhere, the baby was coming now at home.”

About 25 minutes after Sofia was born paramedics James Federico and Chelsea Ewens arrived and took them to Sunshine Hospital where the trio were instant celebrities.

They said Mr Karan had a “lot of relief on his face” when they turned up but did a great job with the delivery.

“Unfortunately we don’t go to some of the happiest and joyful things so to be part of that experience is quite rewarding,” Ms Ewens, a graduate paramedic who was only five months into the job, said.

Sofia’s parents said she had been “perfect” since returning home but they weren’t planning on having any more kids.

“It’s really special to me that I got to deliver her (but) I’m not delivering anymore, I’m not taking that risk,” Mr Karan said.

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