HAVING a baby can be a shock to the system - but even more so when you did not even realise you were pregnant.In a remarkable medical story, Ipswich mum Sarah Davey gave birth to 8lb 14oz Codie on Wednesday but she did not realise she was pregnant until she went into labour.

HAVING a baby can be a shock to the system - but even more so when you did not even realise you were pregnant.

In a remarkable medical story, Ipswich mum Sarah Davey gave birth to 8lb 14oz Codie on Wednesday but she did not realise she was pregnant until she went into labour.

Miss Davey, who had an implant to stop her falling pregnant, could not get to hospital in time for the surprise birth so her partner Sean Meadows had to step in to deliver the child himself.

The couple and their two other daughters, Skye, four, and Alana, 11 months, are today at their south west Ipswich flat with the healthy new baby.

Miss Davey, 22, who works at Makro, said: “Shock is the only way of describing it. I had no time to think about anything as I had to concentrate on the delivery.

“I said first 'I think it's a baby' and then Sean laid me down, had a look, and said 'yeah, it's baby alright - I can see the head!'”

“It was a good job Sean was on holiday from work or I'd have been there on my own with the girls.

“The doctors said my implant might have been in the wrong muscle, and that because I had the implant my hormones were affected, which is why I didn't have symptoms.

“She's perfectly healthy and I feel great too.”

Miss Davey had no signs of the pregnancy, did not feel the baby kicking and did not put on weight despite going full term.

Mr Meadows, 24, a fork lift driver, said: “It was about 6am and Sarah went to have a bath. She was having stomach pains and when I got up I told her to lie on the bed. Then all of a sudden I could see a head.

“I called 999 and they stayed on the phone while I delivered the baby.

“Alana was in her cot in the room, jumping up and down and I was trying to keep her quiet and happy as well.

“Then our eldest daughter came in and said 'there's a baby' all stunned.

“I don't like blood and usually pass out but I knew I had to keep going for the sake of the baby.

“On the phone they were telling me to tell Sarah how to breathe calmly and to unwind the umbilical cord which was wrapped around the baby's stomach.”

Codie, middle name Leigh, was allowed home from hospital with Miss Davey on the same day she was born.

She is sleeping in a borrowed Moses basket as the family have no room for another cot in the flat.