‘I gave birth on the bathroom floor’ Edinburgh mum’s ‘amazing’ new arrival

A mother who has battled with mental health and eating disorders, feels “empowered” after giving birth to her son by herself on her bathroom floor.

Shona Watson Smith. partner Kalim, with baby Zeke, Louis, 15, Alannah, 6, and Silas, 4

Shona Watson-Smith, from Mayfield, Midlothian, gave birth to her son at home without assistance on Saturday morning, June 20, after experiencing what she thought were Braxton Hicks contractions.

Ms Watson-Smith said: “Doing this on my own without anyone helping me – it was the most amazing experience of my life.”

Ms Watson-Smith initially woke up feeling pain and a need to push but after experiencing three pregnancies already, she presumed they were false labour pains.

Shona Watson Smith gave birth to her baby, Zeke, in the bathroom.

She said: “I remember lying on my bed and feeling this urge to push so I got up to go to the bathroom, ran myself a bath and thought I’d phone triage later on as I imagined I had loads more time on my hands.”

However, Ms Watson-Smith soon came to realise that her baby, who was already four days late, was not going to wait any longer.

She said: “Suddenly, I felt this urge to push overwhelm me and I put my hand down and I felt his head and it felt like I was in a dream, I couldn’t believe it.

“My partner was in the living room looking after our three other kids and phoning an ambulance and I was in my bathroom giving birth to my baby.”

Since suffering from mental health issues and eating disorders, Ms Watson-Smith has been left feeling empowered and confident after her pregnancy.

Ms Watson-Smith explained: “I have had depression and eating disorders throughout my life, but he really helped me fight away all these demons and he made me realise how strong we both are.

“It was so empowering, and it made me realise what I was capable of.

“Even during my pregnancy he helped with these demons as I knew he didn’t deserve to suffer so I got up every day and just thought ‘You need to eat for him’ and so I began to eat more for him and then I soon realised ‘Hang on, I deserve to eat too’.

“He really gave me my life back.”

After giving birth, paramedics came ten minutes later and rushed both mother and baby to the Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital as they feared Ms Watson-Smith may suffer a haemorrhage. However, both were fine, and the new-born weighed in at a healthy 6lbs and 14oz.

Ms Watson-Smith said: “To come out even stronger especially during lockdown after I haven’t been able to see my mum and my sister, is just an amazing feeling and I’m so lucky to have him.”

Ms Watson-Smith has decided to call her newborn baby Zeke, Hebrew for strength, to represent the strength and empowerment Zeke has given her.

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