Mar 14 2010 by Liz Walker, Sunday Sun
A GRAN got more than she bargained for when she called round to babysit - she delivered her own granddaughter.
When Selina Laydon, 32, went in to labour at 10pm the first person she called was her mum Margaret Laydon.
Rushing round to her daughter's house in Victoria Street, Dunston, Gateshead, the 63-year-old retired Gala bingo worker expected to keep an eye on Selina's elder daughter Katy, six, while mum headed off to hospital with partner Dave.
But when she arrived, Margaret soon found herself taking on the role of midwife as Selina was in the bathroom screaming in agony “the baby is coming now!”
And before there was even time to panic tiny baby Ava May Hewitson arrived into the world - straight into the toilet - at 11.35pm and weighing 7lb 4oz.
“Ah it's the baby!' I shouted, and scooped her out of the toilet bowl” said Margaret.
“She was all curled up like she was still in the womb. I freed the cord from around her neck, She didn’t scream - but I knew she was OK because she opened her eyes and looked at me.”
Meanwhile, dad Dave, 34, a welder, was not so calm and paramedics, who were on the phone by this point giving the family advice, were concerned the baby was not crying, so they urged them to tickle and blow on her feet.