Dramatic doorbell footage has been released showing the moment a California mother was forced to give birth outside her home after her water suddenly broke on the way to hospital.
Natasha Downing, who was 39 weeks pregnant, had just left her home in Calabasas with her suitcase when she felt so much pain that she had to crouch near the doorway, Caters News reported.
“As I was going down the stairs, I felt the baby coming towards me,” the 34-year-old recalled of the ordeal, which was caught on camera.
“I had to squat outside and my water broke. I knew I wasn't going to make it to the birthing center.”
Ms Downing said that after screaming for pain relief with nitrous oxide, her husband Tom quickly peeked in and told her the baby was already “popping out”.
“I did a squat and just breathed. I wasn't straining at all and her head cleared on its own,” Downing said.
“My husband looked and said the baby was blue and only the head was sticking out and he could feel it being pushed backwards.”
The footage, which has been edited to depict the actual birth, shows Ms Downing crouching next to her suitcase in the middle of the road in front of her, clinging to her husband.
“I didn't know how she was going to clear in this position, so I'm lying on my side with my legs in the air,” Downing said.
“I've been in contact with the midwife, but all I know is that I have to push to make her shoulder feel better. My husband is going crazy.” she continued.
“It was like a wave going through my body and that was my only propulsion. She came out and was perfectly fine. One push and she came out. ”
Moments later, Ms Downing's husband filmed her lying near the doorway, holding their newborn daughter Lilybella.
“She was perfectly healthy. It was everything I dreamed of,” Downing said.
“It sounds like it would be a traumatic birth, but it was so healing and really wonderful.”
