Doctors shocked by own water baby

Baby Ava surprised mother Nicola Murchie in the bath Enlarge Image

Two doctors who live near a maternity hospital were caught out when their baby was suddenly born in the bath.

Nicola and Peter Murchie, from Aberdeen, were expecting their second child.

Nicola, 34, was having a bath in their home when her baby decided to come into the world, helped by an ambulance crew who arrived just in time to help.

Their unexpected water baby, Ava Lavinia, was safely delivered weighing almost 7lbs 3oz, and is doing well.

The couple had expected to simply calmly make the short drive to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital whenever Nicola started to feel the first contractions.

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Nicola and Peter demonstrate how the baby was delivered

However, as Peter fed their two-year-old son Alexander downstairs, he heard sounds of distress coming from his wife in the bathroom upstairs.

When he got upstairs he was confronted with the sight of the baby's head in the water.

Peter, 37, phoned an ambulance, and help was with them within a few minutes.

Nicola told the BBC Scotland news website: "I was having a bath and went into labour - there was just no holding her back.

"I just knew she was coming and there was nothing I could do about it. Once I was in the bath I could not get out.

Ava Murchie was none the worse for her bath birth

"I shouted to Peter for help, he pondered up the stairs probably thinking I was being a drama queen. It was quite scary but I knew that help was on the way so I did not worry about it."

Peter recalled: "I was giving Alexander his breakfast and suddenly there was screaming and shouting upstairs.

"Nicola said the baby was coming, I had a look and sure enough she was right - I have definitely learned to recognise a baby's head.

"I phoned an ambulance for some help, they were here in about three or four minutes, she was more of less half-way out and they delivered the baby. We cannot praise them highly enough."

'Very resilient'

He said: "I had phoned my mum and dad to come in and look after Alexander, I didn't expect the baby would be here when they arrived.

"It's amazing, I don't think being doctors made any difference.

"When it's your own the subjectivity and the training goes out the window.

Peter, Nicola and Alexander can laugh about Ava's birth now

"We went to the hospital for a check-up and then were back home again the same day."

Peter added: "She seems very resilient, but no wonder having been born in the bath.

"Nicola was in the shed the day before, so we were lucky in a sense.

"All's well that ends well."

Nicola added: "We had been ready for the short trip over to hospital, but that just did not happen.

"I was hoping to get a new bathroom suite, but I'm quite attached to this one now."