Just three weeks after welcoming their son into the world in the back of an ambulance, new parents Louisa and Joe were reunited with the crew who helped deliver their second child.

Louisa from Canterbury in Kent, who is already mum to two-year-old Theo, had been feeling increasing discomfort as her contractions grew closer together on the evening on Thursday, 17 July.

At 40 weeks pregnant, she called her local hospital but was advised to rest and take a warm bath. In the early hours of Friday 18 July, shortly before 04:00, Louisa’s mother-in-law who is a former midwife called 999 as her contractions were just minutes apart.

Emergency Medical Advisor, Ashlee Gale, answered the 999 call and quickly triaged the call as a category 1 emergency, with Resource Dispatcher Sally Dadson coordinating a team of five clinicians to the scene.

Within minutes, Paramedics George and Lauren, Critical Care Paramedic, Liz and Emergency Care Support Workers, Jeff and Sam, were by Louisa’s side.

Louisa had planned to give birth at hospital, but baby Otis had other ideas. During the drive from their home in Canterbury to the QEQM Hospital in Margate, he made his arrival at 04:44 in the back of the ambulance.

Both mum and baby were healthy and were discharged less than 24 hours later back home to partner Joe and toddler, Theo and three weeks later the family paid a visit to Thanet’s Make Ready Centre to reunite with Lauren, Liz, George and Sam.

The crew enjoyed a cuddle with baby Otis and showing two-year-old Theo around an ambulance, as he was fast asleep when Otis made his arrival!

Paramedic Lauren said “Although it wasn’t Louisa’s plan, Otis made a lovely arrival into the world in the back of our ambulance. Louisa was fantastic and it’s great to see them doing so well after just three weeks.”

Louisa said “It was great to have the opportunity to reunite with the team who helped deliver Otis as it was quite hectic on the morning of his delivery. We can’t thank them enough.”