John holding baby Saige in hospital. // A dad delivered his own children after two surprise home births four years apart. Adele Crisp, 34, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to a hospital, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour. Her partner John, 39, helped Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am. Photo released 31/08/2026 (Image: Adele Crisp / SWNS)
A father delivered his own children in two unexpected home births four years apart.
Adele Crisp, 34, awoke suffering from intense cramps on 14 August while she was 36 weeks and two days into her second pregnancy. She was told to race to her maternity unit in Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour.
Her partner John Anderson, 39, assisted Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am, reports Chronicle Live.
Adele described the experience as “déjà vu” as, four years previously, John had delivered their first daughter, Georgia, in the same home after she arrived nearly six weeks early in March 2022. On each occasion, John was called upon to assist with the births of his daughters as they arrived unexpectedly swiftly, just minutes before paramedics reached the scene.
Saige-Elizabeth spent a week in hospital receiving treatment for jaundice but has since returned home with her elder sister, following both girls’ remarkably swift arrivals. Adele, a full-time mother from Walker, Newcastle, said: “It’s crazy this happened not only once, but twice.
Adele and Georgia at home. // A dad delivered his own children after two surprise home births four years apart. Adele Crisp, 34, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to a hospital, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour. Her partner John, 39, helped Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am. Photo released 31/08/2026 (Image: Adele Crisp / SWNS)
“They both arrived really quickly, at the same house, and John had to catch both of the babies. It felt like déjà vu. You couldn’t make it up.”
Adele discovered she was expecting their first daughter when she was 28 weeks pregnant in January 2022. Six weeks later, when Adele was 34 weeks and two days along, her waters broke on March 4, 2022.
Baby Georgia. // A dad delivered his own children after two surprise home births four years apart. Adele Crisp, 34, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to a hospital, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour. Her partner John, 39, helped Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am. Photo released 31/08/2026 (Image: Adele Crisp / SWNS)
She was instructed to track the contractions but observed them intensifying more rapidly than expected – entering active labour in the bathroom. John, who was employed in a call centre at the time, rang for an ambulance and was guided through the delivery over the phone.
Adele, who spoke to Talk to the Press: “Within two hours and 11 minutes of my water’s breaking, she had arrived. “I was told not to push yet but my body needed to – it knew what to do. The paramedic heard as I told dad to catch her as she came out.”
Georgia, who weighed 5lb 12.5oz, remained in hospital for 12 days on a feeding tube and breathing support after arriving prematurely. Four years later, the couple were thrilled to discover they were expecting their second child in January 2026.
Adele developed gestational diabetes during the pregnancy and was carefully monitored with scans. She was scheduled to be induced on 19 August, but just days beforehand, on 14 August, her waters broke.
Georgia now, aged 4. // A dad delivered his own children after two surprise home births four years apart. Adele Crisp, 34, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to a hospital, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour. Her partner John, 39, helped Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am. Photo released 31/08/2026 (Image: Adele Crisp / SWNS)
She said: “I was told to get taxi to hospital rather than call an ambulance.
“But my partner knew it was similar to last time and the baby was coming, so he called an ambulance. He could already see her head and knew she was coming.”
Saige after she born at home. // A dad delivered his own children after two surprise home births four years apart. Adele Crisp, 34, woke up experiencing severe cramps on August 14 while she was 36 weeks and two days pregnant with her second child. She was advised by the maternity assessment unit to get to a hospital, Newcastle, but had already entered active labour. Her partner John, 39, helped Adele to the living room and, following a 21-minute labour, delivered their daughter, Saige-Elizabeth, at 3.55am. Photo released 31/08/2026 (Image: Adele Crisp / SWNS)
Just 21 minutes afterwards, their daughter Saige-Elizabeth, who weighed 6lb 4.5oz, was caught by dad and transported by ambulance to RVI hospital. She spent one night in the NICU receiving treatment for jaundice and slightly rapid breathing, followed by six additional days on a ward, before returning home.
Adele said: “My partner’s auntie, Julie, was supposed to be my birthing partner, but by the time she got her coat on and arrived, Saige was here. She’s doing well and it’s nice to all be home again. “
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