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Meet The UK's Youngest Midwive, Delivering Babies At Just Six

One little girl went above and beyond her big sister duties, delivering BOTH of her baby sisters, thanks to watching Casualty

A schoolgirl might be the UK's youngest midwife, after she delivered her own two sisters - the first of whom was born when she was just six years old.

Francesca Goodby, now nine, first sprang into action when mum Kay gave birth on the bathroom floor two years ago.

The Goodby sisters with mum Kay (30) Roisin (2), Saoirse (7 weeks) and Francesca (9) (SWN)
The Goodby sisters with mum Kay (30) Roisin (2), Saoirse (7 weeks) and Francesca (9) (SWN)

The cool-headed youngster, who was just six at the time, helped deliver her 6lbs 8oz sister Roisin by encouraging Kay to push after remembering an episode of Casualty.

And when Kay went into labour in August this year with her third child, Francesca again stepped in for midwife duties.

Kay, from Bearwood in Birmingham, called the midwife after her waters broke and Francesca sat with her while dad Michael, 35, looked after two-year-old Roisin downstairs.

But before the midwife arrived on August 12, Francesca delivered her baby sister Saoirse who weighed a healthy 6lbs.

Kay with her daughter Francesca, who helped her give birth to Roisin in the bathroom (SWN)
Kay with her daughter Francesca, who helped her give birth to Roisin in the bathroom (SWN)

Mini-midwife Francesca fetched towels and even held baby Saoirse’s head when she was born facing the wrong way round.

Proud mum Kay, 30, said: "We're so very proud of her. She was the calmest person in the house, she kept telling me to stay calm and helping me to breathe.

"And even when we realised the baby was being born the wrong way she was able to hold the head and keep her safe.

"Her dad had to look after Roisin in the other room so Francesca was shouting through to tell him what was going on, she would tell him when the head was out and if everything was OK.

"Michael was on the phone to the 999 operator relaying the information Francesca was telling him so it was a team effort."

Kay continued: "She learned the first time how to deliver babies from watching Casualty and ever since I fell pregnant again she has been watching it with me and also the show One Born Every Minute so she knows what to do.

"The midwives did arrive eventually, but Saoirse was already out. They cut the cord and finished off cleaning the bathroom.

"One of the senior midwives is so impressed with Francesca she said that if she needs a job I should contact her and she will get her a place on the training course. We joke that Francesca is probably the youngest midwife in the country."

Francesca aged 6 and baby Roisin in 2012 (SWN)
Francesca aged 6 and baby Roisin in 2012 (SWN)

Kay had been experiencing false alarms for several weeks, and visited the hospital just hours before the birth. When her waters broke at home she phoned the NHS helpline and was told the midwife would be on her way.

But almost an hour later she received a call from the midwife saying she had been delayed and was still 45 minutes away. And little Saoirse couldn't wait.

Francesca, who wants to become an artist when she grows up, said: "I knew what to do from the last time I helped mummy have a baby.

"As soon as mummy said she was pregnant I was preparing just in case it happened again.

"Then I held the head while she came out. It wasn't scary, I was excited and glad to help."

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Coolheaded Francesca learned her skills from Casualty and One Born Every Minute (SWN)
Coolheaded Francesca learned her skills from Casualty and One Born Every Minute (SWN)