A BRADFORD florist who rolled up her sleeves and helped to deliver her new grandson has described the experience as "well worth all the stress".
Carolyn Heln assisted in bringing baby Archie into the world when her daughter Kimberley went into labour at her Clayton home.
Kimberley - who said she attended Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) with "painful and frequent" contractions just hours earlier but was told to return home due to bed and staff shortages - praised her mum and her niece, Bethany, who also helped her as she gave birth.
Archie was born weighing 7lb 14oz at 12.14am on Monday.
Carolyn, 57, a Morrisons' florist, said: "I can't lie, it was a traumatic experience - but I managed to keep calm.
"After Kimberley's waters broke, I thought 'my goodness, here goes'.
"I phoned the ambulance service and they talked me through what to do.
"As soon as I saw baby's head, I just knew what needed to be done - instinct kicked in.
"I did what any mother would do.
"My heart was beating very fast throughout it all.
"It was worth all the stress - little Archie is absolutely gorgeous and he's doing so well.
"I don't want to relieve that experience again in a hurry, though!"
Carolyn also praised her 16-year-old granddaughter Bethany, who was also there at the time to help.
"She held her aunty Kimberley's hand all the way through it," said Carolyn.
"Bless her, she was a little star."
Kimberley, 27, who has another child, one-year-old Amelia, said: "It was frightening and painful giving birth and not being in a hospital.
"But my mum and Bethany did a wonderful job.
"I'm so grateful to them."
After Archie was born, mum and baby were taken to BRI to be checked over.
"He's doing great," said Kimberley.
She said she was "disappointed" BRI sent her home when she was having contractions on Sunday evening, shortly before Archie's arrival.
"I was told no beds were available and there were also staff shortages," she said.
A BRI spokesperson said Kimberley's care would be reviewed to "understand what happened and to share learning with our team".
They added: "We are extremely sorry that Kimberley was unable to access our service when she needed it, which must have been very distressing for her and her family.
"We would very much welcome an opportunity to speak to Kimberley and listen to her experience, and apologise in person for her disappointment."
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