and an unusual item her dad picked up to help
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A teenage mum gave birth at home in front of 10 loved ones - including her quick-thinking dad who took off his shoelaces to help.
Megan Cooper, 16, had gone into labour a week early on Thursday evening but had been sent home by staff at Ormskirk hospital as she was only 2cm dilated.
But soon after arriving home to Kirkby, near Liverpool, she suddenly felt the urge to push.
Her family rushed around to help including - and while her sister Laura called 999, her taxi driver dad, John, quickly took his shoelaces off to wrap around the cord.
Fortunately, paramedics Kelsey and James arrived in time to help and the shoelaces weren't needed.
(Image: Liverpool Echo WS)
(Image: Liverpool Echo WS)
Laura told the Liverpool Echo : “We phoned for an ambulance and then I phoned our two other sisters who live down the road to get them to come round.
“The labour came on so fast and we didn’t know what to do, but the man on the end of the phone was really helpful.
“It only took paramedics 10 minutes to get to us, they were amazing.
"When they arrived the baby’s head was crowning. Megan was brilliant - there was 10 of us in the bedroom, it was a bit of a squeeze but it was magical.”
Megan gave birth to baby boy Deacon Declan Cooper, weighing 7lbs 12oz, at 1:45am on Friday and was taken to hospital with boyfriend Declan by her side for a check-up.
Laura said: “My dad was thrilled to be there as he actually missed Megan’s birth, so it was amazing for him to be there to basically deliver his grandson.
“Megan was really scared, but the paramedics really helped to calm her down and from then on it was a breeze, she’s a little star.
“Megan wants to carry on with her college work at Mode Training and provide a future for her baby boy, and of course we’ll all support her too”
Mother and baby are expected home later today, with the rest of the family celebrating together in their local Wetherspoons.
Laura said: “We just wanted to say a huge thank you to the NHS , they were just brilliant.
“Megan will be an amazing mum, even though she’s young and we’re so proud of her.”