A WOMAN helped her friend give birth at home while an ambulance battled its way through snow and ice to help them.

Mum Rebecca, who would not reveal her surname, went into labour at her home in Greater Leys on Saturday.

Fortunately her friend Sasha East had popped round to see her – not realising her baby was well on its way – and dialled 999.

On the end of the phone was Shelley Dansiger, an emergency medical controller for South Central Ambulance Service, who talked Ms East through the birthing process.

Between the two of them they delivered baby Ellie shortly before 2pm, weighing a healthy 6lb 7oz.

Ms East, from Greater Leys, said: “I went to see my friend Rebecca because her partner was working out of the area, just to sit with her and keep her company.

“I thought she was going to be in labour for a long time.

“When I got there I said, ‘Should I order a taxi?’ because her waters had broken and then she became in a lot of pain, so I called the ambulance.

“She said I should get towels and prepare to have the baby and then she talked me through everything I needed to do.

“I had to guide the baby out when it was being born, wipe her nose and pass her to her mum.

“We did a first-aid course at work but they didn’t tell us how to do that.”

Ms East, 36, a community development worker for housing association Catalyst, said it was a special moment for both of them.

She said: “It was emotional, I was just so surprised.

“I just wasn’t expecting it, but they are both okay. It’s a very special time for her and her family.

“Seeing her first breath and hearing her cry was just amazing and knowing she was okay. I was just so grateful to the ambulance staff.”

Ms Dansiger, who took the emergency call at 1.44pm, said: “The weather was awful, the ambulance was en route and Sasha was amazing.

“We’re trained for situations like this and I did the birth with her over the phone.

“Both Rebecca and Sasha were really pleased when baby Ellie was born 10 minutes after I took the call. I stayed on the line to them both until our crew arrived at 2.05pm.”