An Adelaide couple have thanked a triple-0 operator who guided them through the birth of their son over the phone.
Ben and Tiana Green said they planned an at-home water birth for the arrival of their second child with a midwife in December.
But Tiana’s contractions started earlier than expected, and she went into labour with only her husband to help her.
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“We were so stressed about not having our midwife there and just being all alone basically,” Ben said.
The couple decided to stay home and call triple-0 rather than rush to a hospital because Tiana was progressing through labour very fast.
A recording of Ben’s triple-0 call was shared with the media.
During the call, Ben tells the operator his wife is almost 40-weeks pregnant and her contractions are about two-minutes apart.
He then says can feel the baby’s head.
“I’m going to help you deliver the baby,” the operator said on the call.
About twelve minutes after calling, Ben delivered baby Zeb by himself and paramedics and the midwife arrived at the home just a minute after.
“It was like a couple of angels walking in,” Ben said of the paramedics.
“We’re incredibly, incredibly thankful (for them).
“I’m just waiting for my midwife certificate to arrive in the mail.”
Ben said after the paramedics arrived, he went to the kitchen and cried because he was so overwhelmed with emotion.
Zeb is now four-months and healthy.
The couple shared their story as the South Australian Government announced the construction on the South Australia Ambulance Service headquarters in Mile End has begun.
The $120 million facility will include two new 24/7 emergency crews with 32 paramedics and four new ambulances.
It is due to be completed by the end of next year.