Former Hillsborough resident delivers baby on roadside3 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Former Hillsborough resident, Georgia van Sambeek, gave birth to her son on the side of the road, with fiancé Matthew Malins making it just in time to catch the newborn.
The unexpected delivery began late on Saturday, 25th January, when Georgia’s waters broke at 11.45pm – a week before her due date. They were visiting Matthew’s family bach in the Coromandel, and they set off back home to Pukekohe with their two dogs, a Dalmatian and a Dachshund, in tow.
“I thought I had enough time to make it to the birthing unit as the contractions hadn’t started by the time we left,” Georgia says, nearly two months after giving birth.
However, just 30 minutes into their journey, the contractions kicked in, and attempts to contact their midwife and emergency services were repeatedly thwarted by poor mobile reception.
Eventually, they reached the midwife when they arrived in Thames, who advised them to go home, which was still 45 minutes away.
About 25 minutes later, Georgia’s pain intensified and she realised the baby’s head was out.
“I told Matthew to pull over because he’d have to catch his son.
Matthew stopped the car close to Maramarua, racing around to her side – unintentionally leaving his car door open. As Georgia clung to the couple’s Dachshund to prevent her from leaping out, Matthew arrived at Georgia’s door just in time to catch baby Fletcher, born at 1.45am on Sunday, 26th January.
With the midwife on the line, the couple received instructions on clearing the baby’s airways and keeping him warm. Fortunately, the placenta was still inside Georgia, so the newborn was placed on mum’s chest and covered with a blanket to keep warm, allowing Matthew to focus on getting them to the birthing unit.
“Two midwives were waiting for us when we arrived and the umbilical cord was cut while I was still in the car,” Georgia says, adding, “I had to get stitches and they hurt more than the birth.”
Matthew made a quick trip home to drop off the dogs and retrieve the hospital bags, which had been packed and ready.
Georgia and baby Fletcher received the all-clear and spent three days at the birthing unit, where staff helped the new mum adapt to life with a baby.
In a quirky twist, Fletcher’s birth certificate officially lists his place of birth as ‘In transit, corner of Kopuku Road and State Highway 2, Maramarua’.
Georgia lived in Hillsborough for about 20 years, and frequently visits her grandparents, well known couple, Bart and Donna Van Sambeek, who have been part of the local community for 35 years. The couple is overjoyed to become first-time greatgrandparents to Fletcher and are excited to dote on the new addition to the family.
As for Georgia and Matthew, they are now looking forward to their wedding in July – grateful for their growing family and the unforgettable way it began.
