Very special delivery at petrol station

IT was a case of all hands to the pumps when Amy Balfe gave birth to a baby girl at a Topaz petrol station.

Her precious bundle of 7lb 13oz was delivered in the bathroom of the petrol station as Amy and her partner were en route to the Rotunda hospital.

Amy had been having contractions, but they had become suddenly worse and she and her partner Thomas Donnery headed for the hospital.

She went to the bathroom and realised the baby was coming. She shouted to Thomas to call an ambulance. When he came back, Amy was holding Katie in her arms.

Yesterday, the delighted parents and their bundle of joy returned to the scene, just off the M1 at Lissenhall near Swords, to meet with staff who were on duty on the evening.

Astonishingly, when searching for a the perfect gift for baby Katie, Topaz staff at the site discovered that the birthstone for November is the precious gemstone topaz.

Amy, 28, who was 40 weeks pregnant at the time, says she didn’t realise just how close she was to giving birth, and it was only after visiting the ladies that she realised she had reached the point of no return.

She said: “I began feeling contractions around 5.30pm — two weeks ago today. I talked to my mum and the hospital and we decided to head to the Rotunda around 7.45pm. I thought I just needed to go to the loo but once I was in Topaz I couldn’t move. Then it all happened so quickly and Katie popped out after just two pushes. It was just unbelievable.”

Presenting Katie with a necklace and bracelet with topaz stones, retail director Frank Gleeson said he and everyone at the company was thrilled for all the family.

“The most important thing is that both mum and baby are well and we are delighted to welcome Katie back here today with Amy and Thomas. Amy was extremely brave throughout this ordeal and ably supported by a very calm Thomas and the staff here at the site ensured everything went as smoothly as possible.”