Harold Wood teacher’s baby delivered by colleagues in classroom after shock labour

Diane Krish-Veeramany with baby Jonah and paramedics after giving birth at Manford Primary School. Archant

A teacher from Harold Wood had to give birth in a classroom when her baby came early on Thursday - with colleagues as midwives.

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Diane Krish-Veeramany with husband Vijaye Veeramany and baby Jonah. Diane Krish-Veeramany with husband Vijaye Veeramany and baby Jonah.

Dedicated teacher Diane Krish-Veeramany was working up until the week she was due at Manford Primary School, in Manford Way, Hainault, when her contractions started early on Thursday.

The lightning-speed labour lasted just 20 minutes and started just before 9am, minutes after she told headteacher Tina Jacobs she was feeling “queasy”.

Miss Jacobs said: “We phoned an ambulance but before they could get here she gave birth in an empty classroom with three classroom assistants.

“It happened so fast.”

Teaching assistants Dita Gojnovc, Chris Sword and Sam Mustafa with their certificates for helping with the birth. Teaching assistants Dita Gojnovc, Chris Sword and Sam Mustafa with their certificates for helping with the birth.

Father Vijaye Veeramany arrived just in time to see the birth of his son Jonah, born at a healthy 9lb.

Mrs Krish-Veeramany, 30, said she had been planning to finish work on Friday for a leisurely week off before giving birth.

She added: “I’ve always been dedicated to my position but this is taking my role as health co-ordinator a bit too far.

“I intended to work until the week before but I didn’t dream I would have to have my baby in a classroom.”

Colleagues Sam Mustafa, Dita Gojnovci and Chris Sword delivered the baby while taking instructions from paramedics over the phone.

Towels and equipment were collected from around the school and baby Jonah’s first presents were nappies and an outfit from a nearby shop.

Fran Goodwins was part of the ambulance crew that arrived just after the birth.

She said: “We checked mother and baby over and both were well.

“We’re absolutely delighted for the family and that we were able to play a small part in such a happy occasion.”

Mrs Krish-Veeramany was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Hospital, in Romford, but is now resting at home in Harold Wood with her husband and Jonah – their second child.

Miss Jacobs said: “The ladies kept brilliantly calm and the paramedics were fantastic every step of the way.

“Everyone has seen this sort of thing on the television before but you never dream it will happen in real life.”

The assistants were given certificates and medals in a special school assembly on Friday to applause from excited pupils.