Dad delivers baby at couple's Doncaster home after wife who didn't realise she was pregnant goes into rapid labour

Richard and Samantha Vallance were in bed together in their home in Scawthorpe in the early hours of Monday morning, when Samantha said she needed to go to the bathroom, mentioning a sharp pain.

Shortly afterward she shouted for Richard – and when he arrived to join her their baby’s head was already starting to appear. When he managed to get her to stand up, she gave birth. He then helped her to the sofa in the lounge.

The shocked dad said: “I just couldn't believe it. We had just been in bed together, and she got up to go to the bathroom. The next thing she said ‘Richard, I’m having a baby’.

"I just thought ‘what?’ I could see the head peeking out. I got a clean towel, and pretty much caught him as he was coming out, like a rugby ball.

"I didn’t have time to call an ambulance up until that point. I wrapped him up and put him down and checked he was breathing. I didn’t know what to do after that.

"When I rang the ambulance, they told me I’d done everything I needed to do.”

He said the ambulance arrived quickly, and it was only when he was asked by the crew if it was a boy or a girl that he checked the sex – finding he had a son.

Richard said they had no idea that Samantha was pregnant. They were using reliable contraception, and she had shown no symptoms.

Although she had been getting bigger around the belly, they thought it may be a case of IBS, and had planned to get it checked out in the near future – before the baby arrived.

RIchard, aged 39, a volunteer with the Doncaster charity People Focused Group, said they had mentioned the new arrival on social media and had received a deluge of donations of baby equipment from well wishes, for which they were grateful. He added they no longer needed any donations.

Samantha, aged 33, and the baby, their fifth youngster, are both doing well in Doncaster Royal Infirmary, he added. They are yet to decide a name.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.