Meet Axel Murray: A Speedy Arrival on Wheels!
Axel Murray, just 2 days old, couldn't wait to embrace life. This little boy entered the world in a rush, arriving two weeks before his due date and moments before his mom could make it to the hospital. Roxanne Faithful and her partner, Andrew Murray, hurried from their central Auckland apartment to the hospital in the early hours, following her water breaking at 4 am and the onset of contractions.
On that Saturday morning, Axel made his debut in a hurry, two weeks ahead of schedule, and was delivered in the back seat of the car, expertly attended to by his mom, Roxanne. Andrew, the proud new dad, humorously recalled, "He was two weeks early. We hadn't packed the car or had anything ready. It was Rox's second child, but her first was 13 years ago."
Expecting a similar experience to Roxanne's previous 22-hour labor, they quickly realized that baby Axel had other plans. Despite the rush to Auckland Hospital, little Axel decided to be born in the back seat of the car, welcomed and delivered by his mom. Andrew chuckled, "With all these modern gadgets moms have these days, I was packing everything she needed, going to and unboxing and trying to figure out how to fit the baby seat to the back seat of the car. She was all fine, and then, boom, she was ready."
Although they didn't have a midwife or any healthcare professional with them, they felt anything but alone. Andrew shared, "We live on the top floor right in the CBD on Albert St. It's a long, long corridor past all the other apartments, and then a wide-open lift, so it felt like the whole complex was with us."
Despite their near-arrival at Auckland Hospital, Roxanne continued laboring in the back seat, with Andrew driving as fast as possible. He added, "We almost got there. I drove into the parking gate as I went past the ticket booth.
She was screaming, 'it's coming.' It was a very fast drive. The head was already showing. We then got to the front entrance, and she was holding him in her arms."
Overwhelmed with joy, Roxanne shed tears as she cradled her baby in the back seat of the car. Both mom and baby are doing well. Roxanne and Axel were transferred to Birthcare, but they had to return to the hospital on Saturday night as her body was still in shock.
Nevertheless, she was back at Birthcare on Sunday. The proud parents can't wait to take baby Axel home. Andrew is over the moon but admits that the back seat will never be quite the same again.
