Video: The story of how Seth was helped to be delivered over the phone 14 weeks early
A 999 call handler has met the Nottingham boy she helped to deliver over the phone when he was 14 weeks early and wasn’t breathing when born.
Seth Butland was born in Edwinstowe on October 28 2010 when his mum, Liz, went into labour and Liz’s aunt, Dorcas, had to call 999 for help – he weighed just 1lb 15oz.
WARNING: Graphic image below which some people may find upsetting
Call handler for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) Dawn Jennings had to talk Liz and Dorcas through CPR to save his life.
Seth then spent four months in hospital after he was born but is now healthy.
Now almost eight years on, Seth and his family have met the woman who helped his mum through the labour and save his life.
Liz, who is now 33, said: “I’ve never forgotten the guidance and support Dawn gave us over the phone and I don’t think I ever will.
“It was one of the scariest moments of my life but having Dawn on the end of the phone made me stronger.
“It’s been amazing meeting Dawn and we’re definitely going to be staying in touch!”
Liz, who lives in Pembrokeshire, had been visiting Dorcas in Nottingham for a final holiday before her first baby arrived.
However Liz went into a very fast labour and Dorcas frantically called 999 for assistance.
Liz said: “I had been feeling sick and had back pain so I had arranged to see a doctor because I thought I had a virus.
“I went to lie down on the bed and suddenly I felt something and realised Seth was crowning.
“Dorcas called 999 and Dawn talked her through how to deliver the baby.
“But he wasn’t breathing when he was born so Dawn then talked Dorcas through cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mouth to mouth.
“Thanks to that first guidance and interaction from Dawn, Seth is a very happy, amazing seven-year-old boy.”
The ambulance arrived four minutes after Seth was born and they whisked him off to hospital for further treatment.
Dawn, who decided not to continue as a 999 call handler when she had children of her own, said in her two years with EMAS she only helped to deliver four babies over the phone and she vividly remembers the phone call with Liz and Dorcas.
Dawn said: “That phone call sticks in my mind – the baby was very early and Dorcas was quite panicky – tt was a scary situation.
“When you help someone deliver a baby over the phone, all you want to do is hear that baby cry but he didn’t.
“I was so relieved when the ambulance crew arrived and I thought ‘thank God’.”
