Mum hails hero midwife for 'saving her son’s life' with quick-thinking action

Amy McNaughton ‘felt like she was in a movie’ while being rushed for an emergency C-section at Wishaw General Hospital last month.

The 30-year-old, from Bellshill, was just 34-weeks pregnant when she suddenly went into labour with twins Jace and Jude.

Amy McNaughton with twins Jace and Jude

After giving birth to Jude with just two pushes she sadly suffered a cord prolapse, putting little Jace in danger.

It was then quick-thinking midwife, Valerie Ferry, jumped on top of Amy and held the baby and cord inside with her hand as they rushed her to the operating room.

Now Amy believes her actions saved her son’s life and wants to thank her for the heroic efforts, as she had only come in that day to work by chance.

Amy told the Glasgow Times: “It was terrifying. I felt like it was something from a movie being rushed to theatre with the midwife holding everything inside of me with her hand.

“I was scared for Jace as I didn’t think he would have made it with having the cord prolapse.

“The midwife, who in my eyes saved Jace’s life, was called Valerie Ferry.

“I’d love to find her to thank her. She isn’t based in Wishaw and only took an extra shift that day.

“I’m so thankful for her quick acting to hold Jace in as it could have been a totally different outcome.”

Bellshill mum Amy McNaughton with 5-week premature twins Jude, left, and Jace four weeks after a difficult delivery

Amy was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 32-weeks pregnant, a condition that causes complications including high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour.

Her contractions then started two weeks later on Sunday, April 24, and was already 8cm dilated by the time she got to hospital.

Baby Jude was then born at 3.50pm and Amy was given an oxytocin IV to help contractions start with Jace, but her waters suddenly broke and the umbilical cord started to present before the baby.

After an emergency C-section Jace was born an hour later and the boys were then sent to the neonatal intensive care unit in incubators to help them maintain their body temperatures.

After three days they were then moved to the special care baby unit where they spent 11 days.

Both twins had jaundice, had to be given phototherapy, and both were fed via nasal tubes.

Finally, both babies were then discharged without needing any additional help.

Amy and her partner, Graeme Pow, 32, are now “on cloud nine” to be home with their little boys and four-year-old daughter Callie.

Amy added: “It definitely was traumatic but so thankful and forever grateful for the NHS staff and the neonatal nurses.

“The team was amazing and were always happy to update when I called to check in on my boys.

“It was tough leaving the hospital without my babies but I knew they were in safe hands and in the best place with their neonatal aunties and uncles.

“The dedication from the staff is out of this world.

“If it wasn’t for the family support, I don’t know how I’d have managed it all.

“I’m on cloud nine now and in absolute awe seeing big sis Callie with her baby brothers.”

Wishaw Neonatal Unit said: “Jace and Jude got to ring that bell on their way home from Wishaw Neonatal."

“Enjoy every moment of family time”