WHEN a Needham Market mum's road to motherhood hit rush hour traffic, her panic-stricken husband grabbed a mystery Good Samaritan. Together they sensationally delivered a beautiful baby girl in the back of a van.

By JAMES FRASER

james.fraser@ecng.co.uk

WHEN a Needham Market woman's road to motherhood hit rush-hour traffic, her panic-stricken husband grabbed a mystery Good Samaritan.

Together, they sensationally delivered a beautiful baby girl inside a van.

Little Taisha Janelle is the result of a race against the clock in gridlock traffic – and now her proud parents want to thank the anonymous passer-by who helped Thai mum Wannipa Norman in her decorator husband's van.

Delighted and relieved dad, Iain, said: "The woman assisted in every way. She was such a well-timed angel and we just didn't have a pen or time to take down her number.

"We would like to thank her from the

bottom of our hearts."

The frantic couple had pulled into Picton Avenue, Ipswich, when Taisha demanded to make her entrance. They had become stuck in traffic along Valley Road en route to

hospital during the morning rush hour on Tuesday.

Contractions had started just over an hour earlier at their Ipswich Road home in Needham Market, but with the nearest

midwife completely out of reach in Hadleigh, the couple gambled on making a dash to Ipswich Hospital.

Having plumped for the back route into town via Henley Road, however, they soon fell foul of heavy traffic.

After Mr Norman hurriedly parked on a grassy verge, Mrs Norman, was soon sprawled across the front seats of his Peugeot Partner van.

"I was thinking of King Rama the Fifth, a former ruler of Thailand, and praying to Buddha," said Mrs Norman, 32, a devout Buddhist whose unconventional four-wheeled birthing room had an image of Buddha sitting on the dashboard.

When the baby's head began to appear, the 36-year-old self-employed decorator decided to seek help.

"I was just seeing things I didn't want to see," he said. "Then I saw a woman coming out of a house in Picton Avenue and I

shouted to her 'Could you help me, my wife is giving birth!' She came over and her first words were 'Oh my God, a head'."

Mr Norman had just called an ambulance. The mystery woman took control of the phone and relayed medical instructions to Mr Norman as he eased out Taisha's head and shoulders and attentively cleared his emerging daughter's airways.

His daughter was practically fully into the wide world by the time the ambulance crew arrived. Mr Norman added: "I was well relieved when I heard those sirens.

"When the crew arrived, I was able to climb into the van and comforted my wife a bit because that was something I just hadn't been able to do."

They quickly transferred Mrs Norman to an ambulance and took her hospital. Taisha weighed in at 6lb1oz.

The couple were doubly astounded by Taisha's unorthodox arrival because, according to Thai folklore, giving birth in a vehicle is supposed to bring good luck. Taxi drivers in Bangkok even watch out for pregnant women because they want to be blessed with good fortune, said Mrs Norman.

n Were you, or do you know, the mystery midwife? Call the Star newsdesk on 01473 282257

n See Opinion, Page Six