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Singaporean mum gives birth in Melbourne rush-hour traffic

Singaporean couple Adrian Lim and Fiona Ng, whose daughter Matilda was born in their car on Tuesday evening. Photo by Adrian Lim. 
Singaporean couple Adrian Lim and Fiona Ng, whose daughter Matilda was born in their car on Tuesday evening. Photo by Adrian Lim. 

Singaporean dentist Adrian Lim was forced to turn midwife when he and his wife Fiona Ng were caught in rush-hour traffic in Melbourne on Tuesday evening.

Ms Ng, a specialist paediatric dentist, had suddenly gone into labour at home in Malvern, and it progressed rapidly.

So the couple hopped into the car and rushed to the nearest hospital. Ironically, it should have just been a 15-minute drive away, but the rush-hour snarl more than doubled the length of the journey.

While on the road, Mr Lim called the emergency hotline 000. "The person on the line advised me that it was too late and told me to pull over when Fiona felt the baby coming," recalls Mr Lim.

Builder Andrew Bowen, who happened to be passing by Bridge Road, heard the screams and came to lend a hand.

Mr Lim says, "I passed my phone over to him to continue the 000 call. I saw the baby's head and 000 said we had no choice but to deliver. The delivery took five minutes and I caught the baby in my arms."

Singaporean mom Fiona Ng was forced to give birth in a car in Melbourne rush-hour traffic. Photo courtesy of Adrian Lim.
Singaporean mom Fiona Ng was forced to give birth in a car in Melbourne rush-hour traffic. Photo courtesy of Adrian Lim.

According to The West Australian, police officer Paul Henry then came by when he was alerted to a woman's screams coming from a car.

"I got over there thinking Andrew was the offender, not the hero," Sen Sgt Henry told reporters.

The paramedics and ambulance then arrived, and Mr Lim proceeded to cut the umbilical cord from baby Matilda. The Lims have been based in Melbourne since 2005. This is their second child.

"It was very frightening, but I had to stay calm. Fiona was in a lot of pain, but was fine during the ordeal," says Mr Lim. He adds: "Andrew is truly an angel who came at the right time and right place."