LIVING: IT HAPPENED TO ME... I WENT INTO LABOUR LIVE ON THENEWS.
Byline: SARAH TEALE As told to SOFIE WARDPregnant Central TV newsreader Sarah Teale felt a strange sensation in her stomach during a live broadcast - but put it down to another false alarm.
Five hours later Sarah, 29, became a proud mum after baby daughter Millie was born five weeks early. She lives in Nottingham with husband Matt.
AS I lowered myself into my chair I shuffled my notes and prepared to read the news.
I had one minute left before it was time to go live on air - but I was feeling slightly flushed.
Thinking about it, my tummy also felt a bit tight but as I was a first-time mum, I presumed this was a normal part of pregnancy.
It was only December 21, after all, and the baby wasn't due till January 25.
I had felt uncomfortable when I'd woken up in the morning but overall it had been an easy pregnancy.
As the title music began to play, I decided I had no time to worry about it now.
Presenting Central News in Nottingham always got my adrenaline pumping. My unborn baby also seemed excited because I could feel it kicking!
Then, as I began to read the news I felt an unfamiliar sensation inside my tummy. Trying not to panic, I remembered reading about Braxton Hicks - fake contractions - in one of my pregnancy books.
'It must be a false alarm,' I reasoned. My news broadcast passed in a blur. I suppose I must have gone into auto-pilot because I was so busy concentrating on what might, or might not, be happening.
As the title music played us out, I ran to the loo and it was only then I thought my waters might have broken - but, to be honest, I couldn't be sure.
I rushed to find my husband Matt, who thankfully worked in the same building, and he quickly drove me home. But on the way I had what was definitely my first contraction.
Back home, I phoned the midwife.
'Help, I think I'm having my baby!' I screamed down the receiver.
'Stay calm and go straight to the hospital,' she soothingly advised.
So it was back in the car again and half an hour later we arrived at the hospital.
My contractions were now coming faster than ever. By now I was in advanced labour and the doctors told me that my baby was in the breech position and that I needed an emergency Caesarean.
Thankfully, everything went smoothly and at 11.18pm little Millie was born, weighing in at 4lb 15ozs.
Looking down at my beautiful healthy little girl, it was unbelievable.
Five hours ago I'd been on air and now I was a mum! I still had my full make-up on from the show!
The doctor later explained to me that sometimes your waters can break gradually, which can be almost unnoticeable.
The ironic thing is during an ante-natal class two weeks earlier, someone had asked: 'What if you don't realise that your waters have broken?'
At the time I had laughed and said to Matt: 'I think I'll know!'
How wrong I was!
CAPTION(S):
EARLY ARRIVAL... Sarah Teale and baby Millie
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England) |
| Date: | Aug 11, 2002 |
| Words: | 532 |
| Previous Article: | LIVING CELEBRITY SPECIAL: COPYCUTS; Want to turn heads wherever you go? Get star appeal with a celebrity hairstyle. |
| Next Article: | LIVING: WHAT'S NEW. |
| BLAIR AND HAGUE WILL GO HEAD TO HEAD ON TV. |
| Murder hunt after stabbing. |