Family reeling after first of twins born in hospital lift

A Melbourne mum delivered the first of her twin boys in the Melbourne Freemasons Hospital lift, with her desperate husband “screaming for help” as the baby dropped into her trousers.

A Melbourne mum remains in shock after delivering the first of twin boys in a hospital elevator.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Eynesbury parents Caitlyn and Josh Stephens said they were “extremely grateful” to staff at the Epworth Freemasons Hospital, who sprang into action during the sliding doors moment on Saturday.

After noticing the baby’s head was “semi out in the car,” Mrs Stephens said she “made it to the elevator just by the skin of my teeth”.

“By the time we got to level two Tommy had been born. That’s when Josh tried to pull me out of the elevator, and I said: ‘Stop, there’s a baby in my pants!’,” she said.

Tommy Stephens was born in the lift at Epworth Freemasons Maternity Hospital. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Stephens — then on the phone with hospital staff — said the sight of his newborn son in his wife’s pants caused him to “forget about the phone and just start screaming for help”.

Within seconds, the couple were surrounded by nurses and midwives who removed Tommy from Mrs Stephens’ pants, before safely untangling the umbilical cord from around his neck.

But with one more twin to go, Mrs Stephens’ ordeal was far from over, with the mother of three saying she “didn’t know how I’m going to do this again for a second time”.

When the couple’s obstetrician Dr Stephen Cole arrived a few seconds later, the couple was rushed to the birthing suite where baby Luca was delivered safely in a matter of minutes.

“When I arrived it was obvious that Tommy was healthy and the focus shifted to the other baby,” Dr Cole said.

“So I broke Caitlyn’s water and asked her to give me a big push.”

“This job throws up really exciting stories from time to time but this was one of the fun ones that I’ll remember for a long time,” he added.

When asked what she made of the ordeal, the twin’s five-year-old sister Harlow simply said “cheeky Tommy”, before planting a kiss on the newborn’s forehead.

Caitlyn and Josh Stephens, pictured with daughter Harlow, 5, and newborn twins Tommy and Luca. Picture: Mark Stewart

Dr Stephen Cole with the Stephens family in a hospital lift. Picture: Mark Stewart

Reflecting on the delivery, the couple said they were grateful the twins were safe and healthy, with Mr Stephens adding they were lucky to have made it inside so that the “incredible” staff could intervene.

“One extra red light or a slower car in front of me could have made for a different scenario,” he said.

“Hopefully there wasn’t too much speeding, but I suppose we’ll find out when we get home and check the letterbox,” he said.

As for his wife, an exhausted Mrs Stephens said he didn’t have words to describe the emergency.

“I don’t think I ever will,” he said.

Originally published as Family reeling after first of twins born in hospital lift