Delivery

Inspiring moment dad-to-be is forced to deliver his own baby

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• published: 10 Feb 2016
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Inspiring moment dad-to-be is forced to deliver his own baby Inspiring moment dad-to-be is forced to deliver his own baby This new father was forced to step into the shoes of a midwife and deliver his baby daughter on his living room floor Father who delivered his baby daughter after his fiancee went into labour in the middle of the night captured the moment on video - after setting up his camera first Holly Dawson, 24, went into labour suddenly at 3.30am on Sunday Fiance Martin Boyce, 35, quickly set up a camera and filmed it He also helped to deliver the baby before midwives arrived A father-to-be was forced to become a midwife to deliver his fiancee's baby after she went into labour suddenly - and he even managed to catch the whole thing on camera. Keen photographer Martin Boyce, from Leicester, had packed his camera kit ready to record the birth of his Holly Dawson's first baby - but didn't know he'd be caught on camera delivering their bundle of joy too. The couple were caught off guard in the early hours of the morning, when Holly woke Martin in a panic to say she thought the baby was on the way.Martin Boyce, 35, with his partner Holly Dawson, 24, after she gave birth to their daughter Isabelle. Martin filmed the birth when it happened suddenly in the middle of the night And just 40 minutes later, Martin had delivered baby Isabelle in the living room - and he even managed to capture the momentous occasion on film. Martin, 35, from Leicester, said: 'Holly woke me up at about 3.30am on Sunday morning - she quite calmly said, 'I think it's started'. 'But we thought we had ages and ages to wait. 'We started going through the motions - packing the car, getting ready for the hospital, phoning parents and midwives. 'I'd got all my camera stuff ready to take to the hospital, but as I came down the stairs Holly was starting to call out in pain and panic - it was coming on much quicker than we'd imagined. 'Holly set up in the middle of the living room floor, and the penny started to drop that the baby was coming now. 'My mum Polly had managed to get round pretty quickly, and she took over communicating with the midwives on the phone while I helped Holly. 'They told us the midwives were on the way, but it got to the point where Holly said, 'I think I need to push'. 'I looked down the business end and saw the baby crowning, and I realised I'd have to step up and deliver her - I'd thought my role would just be hand-holding. 'But something changed in my brain, and instinct just takes over. 'With one massive push she cascaded out into my hand. 'For about 10 seconds she didn't make any noise - but we put her on Holly's chest for some skin-to-skin contact, and then she let out a little cry, and we all let out a huge emotional sigh of relief. 'With no back-up you're completely on your own, so it was amazing to hear her let out that little noise and know she was okay. 'It was only after everything was over that I remembered I'd set up the camera, and thankfully I'd managed to catch the whole thing on film.'Martin had wanted to film the birth and was able to get the kit out of the car and film just in time to catch Holly giving birth to Belle Shortly after the birth, midwives arrived to check over Holly, 24, and newborn baby Isabelle Olivia - who was born at 4.32am weighing a healthy 7lbs 12oz - before they were taken to hospital to be monitored, as Isabelle's temperature was slightly low. Martin, who posts his photography on his Facebook page, added: 'Luckily it was just a precaution, and Isabelle was perfectly healthy. 'It was certainly an eventful morning, and quite a way to wake up - from getting out of bed to giving birth only took about an hour. 'Up until Holly started pushing, I just assumed the midwives would show up in time - but in hindsight I'm really glad it happened the way it did. 'At the time I was terrified, but now we have a fantastic story to tell Isabelle when she grows up, and I'm proud I was able to be so involved. 'I was actually more scared when I was just holding Holly's hand - when I knew I had to deliver the baby I was focused and concentrating on the job in hand.