A MOTHER has paid tribute to quick-thinking medics after they helped her deliver her daughter at home.

Samantha Hill, had been to Whipps Cross Hospital earlier that day as she prepared to give birth to her daughter Skylah last month.

The mum-of-two was initially told to go back to her Leyton home and wait several hours as doctors did not believe she was ready to go into labour.

However, shortly after arriving home, the 26-year-old took a bath and discovered her labour was progressing much faster than expected.

Ms Hill said: “I was sent home because they said I was not far enough gone, but they said they would expect to see me again in a couple of hours.

“I took a bath and it was then my contractions started. I knew I had to get out and do something but I could not bring myself to do it.”

Ms Hill called for her partner, Antony Bacchus, and mother, who were home at the time and asked them to arrange an ambulance.

However, the mum was already beginning to give birth and a London Ambulance Service crew arrived just in time.

Emergency ambulance crew member Harry Turner was on hand to deliver the new born, the first of his career after more than five years with the service.

Ms Hill added: “I could see the baby’s head was crowning and the paramedic, Harry, walked in and delivered her himself.

“I could not believe how quickly they responded and the face Harry had never delivered a baby before, it must have been quite scary for him, just as it was for me.

“I did not even have enough time to think about what was happening, all that was on my mind was if I could get to the hospital myself because I did not want to call an ambulance.”

Skylah is now seven weeks old and both mother and baby are healthy.