IT WAS meant to be a relaxing holiday amongst the tranquil settings of a renowned forest - but it became the scene of a sudden dramatic birth for a Suffolk couple on their holidays.

Russell Claydon

IT WAS meant to be a relaxing holiday amongst the tranquil settings of a renowned forest - but it became the scene of a sudden dramatic birth for a Suffolk couple on their holidays.

Stephen and Carolyn Lawrence, of Lavenham, will never forget their get away to the New Forest after it saw the birth of their third son in a frantic few hours.

Craig was born five weeks premature at 5lb 6ounces on the first night of their holiday in Dorest - taking the whole family by surprise.

Mr Lawrence, 45, suddenly had the responsibility of making sure his wife received help to deliver the baby after she went into labour at 4am in the morning.

After he called two local hospitals with no joy he reverted to calling 999 which saw paramedics delivering his new son on the lounge of their log cabin.

“I saw the midwife on the Wednesday and she said everything was fine,” said Mrs Lawrence. “At 4am in the morning on Friday I started having contractions and having had two already I knew the other one was on the way!

“I did not really get time to think about it as he was born 46 minutes later.”

Little Craig, their third son after Scott, now three, and Lewis, now 15 months, was born on April 24.

Mrs Lawrence said of her husband's actions that morning: “To start with he did not know what was happening and then he just got on with it.

“He got his mum up and he was trying to phone the hospital. Bournemouth said they only had a small unit so sent us to Poole.

“He could not get through to them though so he had to dial 999 and an ambulance came 10 minutes before he was born. They were being talked through what to do by someone from the ambulance service.

“It did go smoothly but it was a bit frightening and worrying because he was that early.”

She then spent the next 11 days in the Poole Hospital Traditional Care Unit whilst her family returned to Harwood Place in Lavenham at the end of their holiday. Her husband then faced an eight hour round trip just to see his new son until his wife was given the all clear to take him home.

Mrs Lawrence said: “It will definitely be an experience we will never forget. We will take him there when he is older and say 'this is what happened.'

“Hopefully we will take another holiday later in the year so I actually get one this time.”