Husband springs into action to deliver baby daughter on Starston roadside

A dressing gown tie and a couple's teamwork is what it took for a baby to be successfully born in a car on a village road.

Edward and Victoria Johnson, of Withersdale Street, Starston, knew they had to take action as the second time mum-to-be went into labour earlier than expected.

The problem was the couple were driving to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and realised they would not make it in time.

"There was two minutes of utter panic," said Mrs Johnson, 28.

"We had to accept this was happening; we were in the middle of nowhere.

"But, the next minute, we were both calm."

Managing to call 999 on his wife's mobile phone, Mr Johnson, 31, called for an ambulance, but the baby was already on its way.

Following instructions from the operator and his knowledge from hypnobirthing sessions, Mr Johnson helped deliver his own daughter in the back of the family's BMW.

"He didn't know much about what he was doing," said Mrs Johnson.

"Understandably, he has never delivered a baby before, but he was incredible.

"Edward did what he needed to do and he was my rock."

It only took 10 minutes from Mrs Johnson's waters breaking to the baby being delivered.

"Edward was then told by the operator to tie a shoelace around the umbilical cord," said Mrs Johnson.

"But he was wearing laceless boots and I was wearing flip-flops. We had an iPhone charger, but that was no good.

"Then Edward ran to the boot of the car and pulled out the tie from my dressing gown."

And giving birth in the countryside was not without its benefits.

"While I was giving birth, I looked over Ed's shoulder to see the sunset," said Mrs Johnson. "It was such a beautiful setting – serene and blissful.

"It was a nice alternative to being in hospital."

After 24 hours in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Mrs Johnson and her baby daughter were allowed to go home.

The couple's daughter, Edith Lily Johnson, is now a happy and healthy baby.

"She is perfect and doing really well," said Mrs Johnson. "She was born on her sister's birthday.

"Florence is besotted with her baby sister and Edith made for an extra-special birthday present."

Mrs Johnson works as a florist for Figs and Roses in Harleston, while Mr Johnson works for a software company.

"Having Victoria give birth was more surreal than anything," said Mr Edwards.

"But, on reflection, it was the nicest possible way it could have happened.

"There were no complications, our instincts kicked in and everything was textbook.

"That being said, delivering babies is something I don't want to try again anytime soon."