Irene knew best mate Becky had her back, but racing to hospital one day, their friendship was about to face a sudden surprise…
As I settled down at my mate Becky’s house, I couldn’t wait to tuck into bangers and mash.
‘Do you want carrots too, love?’ her mum asked me.
‘Yes please!’ I beamed.
I was six and would only eat my veg if I was round at Becky’s for tea.
We’d been best friends since the age of four, when her mum met mine in the playground.
Our friendship carried on through secondary school and into our 20s.
When I fell pregnant with my son Zayn, there was only one person I wanted at the birth.
'I have to push, Becks!'
But Covid put a stop to that, as I was only allowed the baby’s dad in the delivery room.
Not long later, I found myself expecting again.
‘You’re definitely going to be there this time!’ I said.
Becky was over the moon.
I found out I was having a boy, and called him Kayden.
Six weeks before my due date, I woke up with intense pains.
I think I’m in labour, I messaged Becky.
Fifteen minutes later, she was at the door.
‘How far apart are the contractions?’ she asked.
‘About five minutes,’ I winced.
‘Pack your bag, I’ll get Zayn ready,’ she said.
I knew my friend Stacey would look after Zayn, but she was on a shift at Iceland.
‘Let’s drop him there on the way to the hospital,’ Becky said.
She strapped Zayn into his car seat, while I eased myself into the front passenger seat.
‘Ready?’ Becky asked.
‘I think so!’ I groaned.
Becky drove to Iceland, and carried Zayn quickly into the store.
As she reappeared, I knew I couldn’t stay sitting as I was.
‘I can’t get comfy, I’m going to kneel in the footwell,’ I said.
As Becky drove off, I felt the baby coming.
‘I can’t do this!’ I screamed.
‘You can, you’ve done it before,’ Becky reassured me.
‘I have to push, Becks!’ I cried.
‘Not yet! We’re five minutes from the hospital,’ she said.
‘Becky, his head’s out!’ I shouted.
Becky pulled over and raced round to my side.
‘I have to remove your bottoms,’ she said calmly.
Through shock and pain, I remember Becky checking whether the cord was around my baby’s neck.
‘It’s fine. Now push, Irene!’ she cheered.
After one more push, my baby shot out into Becky’s arms.
‘Well done!’ she said.
Becky helped me sit up and placed my tiny boy in my arms. I was numb, but fell in love straightaway.
Becky ran to the boot, grabbed an old dressing gown and wrapped the baby up.
‘His lips are blue,’ I said panicked.
I stroked his face, willing him to keep breathing.
Becky sped off, and minutes later we pulled up outside the hospital.
She ran in and came back followed by a team of midwives and nurses.
They rushed Kayden to the special care baby unit, where they discovered he had a bleed on the brain and a hole in his heart.
Meanwhile, I was checked over.
Kayden weighed 4lb 5oz and had to spend five weeks in hospital while doctors treated him successfully.
‘You saved our lives that day,’ I told Becky later.
Kayden’s now home and thriving.
When I asked Becky to be my birthing partner, I never expected her to be my midwife.
I can’t thank her enough!
Irene Howard, 35, St Helen’s, Merseyside
Becky told that’s life!: ‘When Irene asked me to be at the birth, I was so touched. I didn’t have much time to think when she went into labour, so I just tried to remain calm. It’s definitely brought us even closer and I feel privileged to have helped her.’