000 helps deliver baby in lightning fast labour | Local Faces

Janine Hill | 22nd October 2008

Michele and Jason Buitendijk with new baby Sierra who was born at home with help over the phone from the ambulance.

WHEN Sierra Buitendijk grows up, she will be able to make the unusual claim of having been conceived in one room and born in the next.

Sierra was born in the ensuite of her parents' Chancellor Park home on Monday after a lightning fast labour.

Michele Buitendijk began experiencing pains about 11am, and rang her husband, Jason, at work about 1pm when the pains got worse.

He was home long enough to call the hospital and 000 when Sierra began to make an appearance.

"It got to the stage where her head was out and one of the ambulance officers tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I'd like him to take over," he said.

Still recovering from the shock, Jason and Michele said they were grateful to the 000 operator, Jenny, ambulance officers Ron and Luke, and paramedic Dave, for their help.

"It's amazing," Jason said.

"You read all these stories in the paper about babies getting delivered by the side of the road and think, 'This will never happen to us.'

"I'd got the car ready and said to Michele we'll go after the next contraction and she said, 'I can't. I need to push.' If we'd got in the car..."

Sierra's hurried arrival was in contrast to that of her older brother, Caleb, 3, who had to be induced.

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