Driveway birth mum seeks man who came to her aid

Natasha Mills, from Hailsham, gave birth in the back of a car in Telham Lane while en route to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

Natasha, from Hailsham, began bleeding heavily on the journey and, concerned her baby may not survive, asked her partner Mark Cousins to call an ambulance.

Mark pulled over into the driveway of Telham High Farm and flagged down a passing car.

A man came to their aid to take over instructions on the phone to help deliver baby Oscar.

Natasha, of Harebeating Drive, said: “I want to say a big thank you to the passer-by.

“My partner had to stand in the road and flag a car down.

“Luckily for us it was a retired policeman (who helped) and who was used to pressure and took over the phone and told Mark what to do.”

Natasha, who described him as ‘fantastic’, added: “We didn’t know where the man came from and wanted to let him know we’re both OK.”

The 33-year-old described giving birth to baby Oscar, who weighed in at 6lbs 1oz, as ‘very stressful’.

The mum-of-three, who also has sons Connor, eight and Jack, six, needed consultant-led care and therefore had to go to the Conquest rather than the DGH as her second baby was premature and her BMI had been low during that pregnancy.

She said during the journey to Hastings on December 14 the couple got stuck in roadworks and behind a horse box, which added to the journey time.

She added: “I was lucky and being my third baby I had experience, but this could have turned out so much worse and I feel that something worse may happen in the future to either a baby or mum.”

Lindsey Stevens, head of midwifery, said: “We are sorry Miss Mills experienced the trauma of having her baby en-route to hospital.

“We appreciate this has been an upsetting experience for her and her family.

“Unfortunately in some cases labour can be unpredictable and very quick.

“It is not uncommon in these circumstances for mothers to deliver their baby before they have time to leave their home.

“In the vast majority of cases when a baby is born quickly, the baby is born healthy and well.

“We closely monitor the number of babies born before the arrival of a midwife and we are able to confirm that the number of Eastbourne women giving birth before arrival has not increased since the temporary changes to maternity services were introduced for safety reasons in May this year.”

*Are you the mystery man who helped deliver baby Oscar? Or do you know the identity of the passer-by?

If so, please call the newsroom on 01424 856783 or email [email protected]