A mum has described the incredible moment she delivered her newborn daughter alone in a hospital car park as "like something from the Lion King".
Rachael Clayton was just moments away from Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary when she felt the sudden need to push.
Despite the pleas of frantic partner Tony Laws, 38, as they pulled into the car park the mum said she was unable to ignore her instincts.
Tony rushed into the hospital, desperately looking for help from midwives but on his return he was shocked to find Rachael proudly holding their daughter up the windscreen of their new family car after an unbelievably quick birth.
The 37-year-old, from Slatyford, said: “It looked like something you would see in The Lion King.
“I was holding our daughter up at the windscreen when Tony returned with four midwives - he was in complete shock.”
Dakota Dianne Laws was born four days after her due date in the passenger seat of an Audi Q3 on Wednesday, June 17, weighing 7lb 1oz.
She was born at 1am, just an hour after Rachael was woken by contractions.
Her swift arrival came as an even greater surprise to Rachael’s mum Dianne, who had spoken to the couple at her Slatyford home just 15 minutes earlier when they dropped off their nine-year-old son TJ before heading to the hospital.
Rachael said: “We were driving near the hospital, and all of a sudden I felt this need to push and when I did I thought I could feel her head.
“My partner kept saying ‘don’t push, don’t push, we’re nearly there’ but at that point I knew she was on her way.”
She added: “People say ‘I bet you were terrified’, but it all happened within minutes and at the time something just clicked.
“I thought there’s nothing I can do to stop it so I’m just going to have to get on with it.”
Following Dakota’s dramatic arrival, the family were taken into the hospital where Tony was able to cut the cord.
And Rachael recalls feeling “like a celebrity” as the family were greeted by staff who congratulated her on the birth of her daughter.
Rachael said: “I felt like a celebrity when I was coming through the hospital as all the midwives knew about what had happened and they were congratulating me and saying well done.
“I hate being the centre of attention, but it felt really nice that the staff were acknowledging what had just happened.
She added: "Before the birth I was feeling quite nervous about going into hospital, especially due to coronavirus, but the staff were amazing and when I was there I didn't feel anxious at all."
Dakota is currently settling in well at home with Rachael, Tony and her big brother TJ, who adores his little sister.
