MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Dana Bay grandmother recently made the most important catch of her life: her newborn granddaughter.
This unexpected and extraordinary delivery was captured on a CCTV camera just outside the grandmother’s house on the morning of Thursday, 8 January.
Teressa Nortjé (26) had expected to deliver her baby on 29 December. She had gone to the local clinic the previous day, 7 January, to ask about inducing the birth, and was told to come back the following Monday if she had still not delivered her baby.
Nortjé’s mother, Monja Jordaan, told Mossel Bay Advertiser that the Thursday started as normal. She and her husband were up and getting ready for work.
“At about 06:15, Teressa came to me and said she thought she would give birth that day. There weren’t any contractions or pain, she just felt pressure on her abdomen at that stage,” she said.
Jordaan sat her daughter down on a Pilates ball, gave her a cup of coffee and began massaging her lower back. “This is when the labour pains started,” she said.
Nortjé’s contractions were rapidly growing closer together, and then her water broke. She knew she needed to get her daughter to the hospital immediately.
CCTV footage of the delivery was captured. Video: Supplied
At 07:03, the CCTV footage shows Jordaan walking her daughter to her car in the front yard. However, as Nortjé attempts to climb in, the baby decides she cannot wait any longer.
“I was panicking. I have no experience with first aid, let alone delivering babies,” said Jordaan.
She immediately started shouting for someone to call an ambulance and told her husband and eldest granddaughter to go and fetch some towels for Nortjé.
“I was very scared,” said Nortjé. “I never thought this would happen to me. You usually only see things like this on TV. But I just kept telling myself to focus on my breathing and stay calm, that there was nothing we could do to change the situation right now, and I didn’t want to freak out and stress the baby.”
Jordaan said her yelling attracted a few neighbours, and as a woman came over to help, Jordaan saw her granddaughter’s head. Less than a minute later, she had caught her granddaughter in her arms.
With the help of her grandmother, Elliana was born at 07:05. “She came out so gracefully, there were no complications,” said Jordaan.
Nortjé and Elliana were rushed to the Mossel Bay Hospital where the medical staff told the family that the two were healthy and doing well.
“My mother and I have a really close and special relationship. She’s my best friend and I can always count on her for anything. I’m so grateful to have had my mother with me and her helping me deliver Elliana. It makes our bond so much more precious to me, and what a special story to tell Elliana one day!” said Nortjé.
“I was sad my husband couldn’t be with me, because he was still in Robertson for work, but I’m really grateful that my mum could be there for me and did such an amazing job delivering Elliana, and she is still supporting me through this adventurous labour.”
Jordaan said she had never in her life thought she would one day deliver a baby. “At the time, I was overwhelmed and scared, but I am grateful that I was there. It was such a privilege for me to be part of my granddaughter’s delivery. People have asked me how I did it, but it was all God. God equipped me to handle this, and it was a wonderful experience,” she said.
Nortjé added she and Elliana are doing well, and that she is thankful to God for keeping them safe throughout the entire process.
Jordaan and Nortjé also thanked everyone who came to help that morning. “We are incredibly grateful for your assistance,” said Nortjé.
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