Dramatic delivery ends on sweet note for Melody

THIS is the beautiful baby girl who was born in a dramatic delivery on the lobby floor of an apartment building in Swords four weeks ago.

Baby Melody stunned mum Traudel Nothmann and dad Johnny – not to mention midwives – with her urgency to enter the world, which she did four days before her due date in the communal area of the Holywell apartments on May 4.

Just two hours earlier mum-of-two Traudel had been sent home from hospital, as there were no signs of imminent labour.

“My waters had broken but the midwives were satisfied that nothing was happening so I was sent home but scheduled to be induced the following day,

? Traudel told Northside People.

“When I got home and lay down I felt things were starting to happen so I called my boyfriend to tell him to come as soon as possible.

“My friend Manu had stayed after bringing me home from the hospital so she and the two children were in the apartment with me.

“When my boyfriend arrived, contractions got stronger and we immediately got up to go to the car.

“We live on the second floor. There’s no lift and because I needed to stop between each contraction, it took a while before I was downstairs.

“In front of the main door entrance, one contraction hit me so strong that I told them to call the ambulance because I wasn’t going to make it to hospital.

“Manu immediately called 999 and requested an ambulance. The guy on the phone asked her how far I was and told her not to hang up.

?

In the meantime, panicked dad Johnny ran back to the apartment to get towels and blankets.

“Contractions got stronger and with two big pushes the baby was born,

? Traudel explained.

“The power of nature made us speechless. I stopped screaming and was so relieved.

?

The ambulance arrived minutes later. Paramedics cleared the baby’s nose and the umbilical cord was cut.

“They said the baby was a good colour and reassured us that we had done everything right,

? the relieved mum stated.

“One of the paramedics said it was his first delivery. I thought he meant the first of his shift but it was actually his first ever.

?

Despite the drama and the location, the experience was actually

“nicer

? than the hospital delivery of her first daughter Molly (18-months-old).

“This time I had my boyfriend and my good friend by my side, not a nurse that I’d never met before, holding my hand,

? she explained.

“I was in so much pain I didn’t care where I was giving birth. I didn’t have any drugs and Melody was born within an hour of feeling the first contraction. I felt pretty normal after the birth.

?

No doubt Melody’s dramatic delivery left a lasting impression on two other people – a shocked male passer-by and family friend Manu.

“I remember seeing a guy who must have been coming to visit someone who lived in the apartments pass as I was screaming and lying down on the carpet in the lobby,

? Traudel said.

“He looked very scared and pale and just passed by without asking if we needed any help. I guess he was in shock.

“Also, Manu has now decided that’s she going to get into midwifery. She had thought of it before but I think the intense experience of delivering Melody has really made up her mind.

?

Thankfully, the last four weeks have been a lot less dramatic for Melody and her family.

“She’s a very easy going and good baby,

? Traudel added.

“I’m just so grateful to my boyfriend Johnny, my dear friend Manu, the ambulance guys and the men on the emergency helpline for their help, advice and support.

“They all saved the day, which will be forever special as Melody’s birthday.

?