14 March 2023 , 20:47
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A gobsmacked mum gave birth to a huge baby girl weighing 12lb 9oz - with a cheeky friend asking if she was born wearing a school uniform.
Ruth Harvey was more than two weeks past her due date when she delivered daughter Tabitha in South Ayreshire, Scotland.
The 36-year-old couldn't believe her ears when the midwife revealed the weight - though doctors had warned her she was going to have a "bigger baby".
It was feared she may need a caesarean section but Ruth was determined to welcome her child into the world at her home in the village of Dundonald.
Dad Mum Eddie Gillan helped set up the birthing pool (Garry F McHarg Daily Record)The support worker told the Daily Record: "When they weighed her we were like 'oh my god!'
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"They had said that she would be a bigger baby but I mean 12lbs 9oz is ridiculous, really.
"I was joking that we need to start a book on the things people have said when we tell them how much she weighs. My favourite so far has been '12lbs 9oz? Did she come out wearing her school uniform?'"
Ruth and partner Eddie Gillan, 44, share four children between them, and lavished praise on the NHS Ayrshire and Arran home birthing team that helped them deliver baby Tabitha.
The couple say the eight-strong team of midwives, who are trained in hypno-birthing, kept them calm throughout the process.
Ruth went on: "We were way over our estimated due date.
Ruth, Eddie, Tabitha and the birthing team (Garry F McHarg Daily Record)"We were a bit worried and looked at booking to have a caesarean section, because the consultants at the hospital were getting a bit twitchy.
"But in the early hours of Tuesday morning I went into labour naturally myself in the house, so baby obviously decided she didn't want to come out the sunroof, she was ready to go.
"We were so glad to have waited for her."
Partner Eddie set up the living room with a birthing pool and fairy lights, making it "all beautiful" for Tabitha's arrival, with the midwives arriving in the early hours to support Ruth through labour.
Ruth added: "The midwives arrived at 2.30am in the morning and just let labour happen in the water.
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"Things got a bit more serious and I started to push and Tabitha was born in the birthing pool in our living room at 9.30am on the Tuesday morning.
"It was just amazing - all the midwives were there, my dad was making bacon rolls and handing them out to everybody.
"Everyone was just so happy for you - it was like a party.
"There were kisses and cuddles from all the midwives and they continue to come out every day afterwards.
"It's all based on the relationships that they've grown and fostered with you, which wasn't my experience going into hospital- I never saw the same person twice.
"Having those women there alongside me and Eddie, who we already knew and trusted, just made everything so much easier.
"It was just surreal. At half 9 I'm in the pool in the middle of the room and then 6.30pm that evening we're all sitting in the same room, everything's packed away, and we're eating Domino's pizza."
Ruth said she would recommend having a home birth "in a heartbeat".
She added: "As we've told people that we were having a home birth, people seem to look at you funny and say 'oh you're brave', but actually I was more scared at the thought of having someone cut me open to get the baby out.
"Being in my own home with people that care about you, and not having to wait for hospital visiting times or discharge, made it so much easier.
"We are having no more babies but if we were then that's what we'd be doing."
Attica Wheeler, head of midwifery and associate director of Nursing- Women and Children's Services, said she and colleagues are "so pleased" to hear that Ruth had a positive home birth experience.
She added home birth rates have continued to increase since the team was introduced in May 2019.