It was the middle of the night at Dot Looker’s house in Wadonga when her granddaughter Rikki Bennett went into labour with her second child.
The Border Mail reports that Rikki’s contractions had begun around 2pm while she was collecting her daughter Summah from school and were severe enough for Rikki to attend the hospital. She was assured by medical staff that the baby was still days away and she was sent home with some mild pain relief.
When things progressed, Rikki again attended the hospital, and was told the same thing. She decided to stay at her grandmother Dot’s house with her mother Jan and Summer, 13 for the night to rest.
After going to bed, Rikki said she woke in pain around 11:30pm. She was experiencing a significant amount of pain and things were escalating quickly. She cried out for help and Dot ran to her grand-daughters side from her own bed, where she was reading a book. She immediately stepped in to assist while Jan tried to call an ambulance. But there was no time.
Within the space of 15 minutes baby Logan arrived. However, amazingly, he was still within the amniotic sac- a rare occurrence called 'en caul birth' or 'veiled birth' which only happens in one in every 80, 000 births (usually in premature babies).
Dot immediately sprang into action and carefully peeled the sac over Logan’s face and released the umbilical cord which was twice wrapped around his neck, restricting his breathing.
