Melkbosstrand SAPS welcomed a 3.7kg bundle of joy on their premises last week delivered by one of their own officers.
Recalling the events for Tabletalk leading up to the day, Emily Lucas, 29, from Klein Zout Rivier near Melkbos, said on Wednesday June 5, her day started normally. She was at her home when around 5pm, she started having very bad cramps.
Ms Lucas didn’t think much of it because her due date was at the end of the month and didn’t expect her baby to come.
When the cramps started getting worse, she went to her mother’s house, who lives close by and they called the ambulance.
“After waiting for a while, we called the police because we were all getting worried.
“The police suggested that they come and fetch me to wait at the police station where the ambulance would then get me. My husband stayed with our two boys. They (the police) made me feel very comfortable there in one of the offices,” Ms Lucas said.
Around 11pm, the baby started crowning and Ms Lucas knew it was time. There to assist her was Sergeant Debbie Alard from Melkbos SAPS and Christa Kleynhans from Community Medics.
Sergeant Alard said they fetched Ms Lucas because there were no vehicles at the hospital to fetch her and they knew that they would take a while to get to her in time.
“When we brought her in, we thought it might be Braxton-Hicks contractions and didn’t expect the baby to be born yet but 10 minutes later, we heard her screaming and knew that they might be real.
“Christa is a community medic and told us what we had to do in order to deliver this baby correctly and that’s what happened,” said Sergeant Alard.
Melkbos SAPS often get donations from generous donors. They received a lot of clothing items from different people and organisations and a week before this incident, they had received baby clothes. Sergeant Alard said this was a sign and a blessing.
After the baby girl was delivered, Sergeant Alard said as soon as she held the baby in her arms, she felt a connection with the baby. “When we heard the baby’s cries for the first time, we all breathed a sigh of relief. I felt something special seeing and holding her, while I was counting her 10 fingers and 10 toes. I will always have a special bond with that child,” she said.
The baby girl was named Dione Debbie Lucas.
The mother said she gave the second name in honour of Sergeant Alard’s bravery during the birth.
“She showed bravery and I think my baby showed bravery to be born healthy and strong despite the circumstances. I think the two of them have that in common. I will forever be grateful to the police and Community Medics,” Ms Lucas said.
When the ambulance finally arrived around 2am, Ms Lucas and her little girl were taken to Wesfleur Hospital in Atlantis where they were discharged that afternoon.
Sergeant Alard jokingly warned the family better be prepared for countless visits from her as she has a special connection with little Dione Debbie.
