Teenage dad delivers own baby at home in emergency birth

Five-week-old Jay Fucile was delivered by dad Jack Fucile, 18, when his partner Kathleen Martin’s waters broke after being sent home from hospital.

He is the second great-great grandchild for Nancy Smith, 92, who a year ago was not expected to live after suffering a massive stroke.

Describing the drama which happened at the family home in Peterlee on August 17, Jack said: “We had been backwards and forwards to the hospital over the past three days and they sent us home.

“Just after getting back home the waters broke. I was scared but just overcame it and got on with it.”

Around 10 minutes later Jay was born in their bedroom before a paramedic arrived.

Jay was whisked to hospital to be checked over before being allowed home after being given the all-clear.

Kathleen, 32, who has two other children, aged 13 and five, said of Jack’s actions: “He did really good.

“When he tried to phone for an ambulance the signal went and the baby was blue when he was born, but Jack wrapped him in a towel and scrubbed his face to get the colour back.

“He was already born when the paramedic got here. It was just instinct.”

Straight after coming out of hospital, Jay was introduced to his great-great grandmother Nancy, who is a resident at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home in Peterlee.

Last November, Nancy became the head of five generations of her family after welcoming her first great-great grandchild Nancie Prins-Best.

Her family were convinced it was the prospect of meeting baby Nancie that kept her going after suffering the stroke in September last year.

Nancy, from Horden, was given just a 2% chance of regaining consciousness. She has since suffered a number of equally serious mini strokes but keeps battling and getting pleasure from being around her family.

Grand-daughter Michelle Best said: “She has good days and bad days. They said she probably wasn’t going to survive after the first stroke and if she did, they said she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk.

“Five days later she was sat up in bed wanting to go home. She is marvellous really and is very proud at having her first great-great grandson.”

Nancy brought up three children on her own after being widowed in her 40s.