This baby ca(r)n’t wait

Not making it to the hospital on time is surely every woman in labour’s worst nightmare, and for Pallara mum Madhavi Leuke Bandara one she knows only too well.

33 year old Madhavi gave birth in the front seat of her car, with her husband helping to deliver their son, outside Mater Mothers’ Hospital at South Brisbane on January 20.

Mater Mothers’ Hospital midwives Marine Pacquier, Carrie Simpson, and Gabby Rowsell rushed to assist second-time mum, Madhavi Leuke Bandara, following the quick birth of her son at 8.44am.

Mrs Bandara’s Thursday morning didn’t go quite as planned. Knowing she was in labour they were about to take their daughter Buvi to day care, but her waters broke just before she got in the car. She and her husband Shyam managed to drop Buvi off then headed straight to hospital, but baby couldn’t wait and a little boy, weighing 3.6kg, was born in the front seat! “It all happened so quickly and before I knew it my husband actually caught the baby in the front passenger seat. He was overdue - we were expecting him on 16 January but we are incredibly happy he is OK.” Mrs Bandara said her husband was initially shocked when she started to deliver the baby in the car, but Mater Clinical Midwife Marine Pacquier, one of the first on the scene, said Mrs Bandara was quite calm.

“The baby was already out when we got there,” Ms Pacquier said. “Her husband actually had quite a few tears once he knew everything was ok.” Mater Mothers’ Hospitals is one of Australia’s largest and most experienced maternity service providers, delivering more than 12.000 babies every year.