Little Leo Andrew Hartley was determined to arrive into the arms of his parents in a hurry.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New mum Gemma Hayes awoke at 2am last Tuesday feeling that something had changed, before waking her partner Tom Hartley up at 4am to share her concerns.
By 5:30am the pair was joined by Ms Hayes' grandmother, Lorraine Crawford, and phoned for an ambulance to be sent as the expectant mum's contractions started to increase rapidly.
Within 10 minutes of calling an ambulance baby Leo was delivered by his father and great grandmother at the couple's Lavington home, after being guided through the process by a triple zero phone operator.
Just minutes later paramedics landed on the scene.
"They arrived about two minutes after he was born," Ms Hayes said.
"It all just happened so quickly, the adrenaline just kind of took over.
"The midwives kept telling me not to come over (to the hospital) yet because the first baby usually takes a long time."
Ms Hayes had just ticked over the 38 week mark of her pregnancy and wasn't due to meet her son for another two weeks.
Leo arrived on Tuesday, August 4, weighing six pounds and five ounces and measuring 48 centimetres.
After transporting to the Wodonga Hospital at around 6am following the birth, Ms Hayes and Leo were back in the comfort of their own home by 3:30pm the same day.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Leo's doting dad admits it's an experience he'll certainly never forget.
"It was like nothing I've ever experienced before," Mr Hartley said.
"Thank god for the lady on the phone with all of the good instructions.
"As long as I stayed calm, Gemma stayed calm.
"I was surprised more than anything.
"He's happy and healthy and that's all that matters."
Leo also had some unexpected guests witness his arrival into the world, with the cheeky spectators likely to be close friends with the newborn as he grows up.
"We'd just finished renovating the house and just had to put the doors back on the rooms, so we didn't have any doors," Mr Hartley said.
"We have three dogs and all three of them were in the room at the time of the birth.
"Not intentionally, but I couldn't help it. I had my hands full."
The pair thanked their family, paramedics, the Wodonga Hospital staff and the triple zero operator who kept them calm and helped talk them through the delivery of their first child.
After almost two weeks, the couple said they are now enjoying life as parents and admit they have a very special tale to share with Leo one day.