Postman delivers a baby.

[Thorby Bislam]

A postman was forced to make a special delivery when his wife went into labour.

Graham Proctor was upstairs when Elena began having contractions at their home in Brentwood, Essex.

The sorting officer then single-handedly delivered baby Isabel on the bathroom floor.

'I am so proud,' said his wife.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

BRENTWOOD: Mum's special delivery by postman hubby

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THANK goodness the postal worker father of this baby is used to handling special deliveries.

When Elena Proctor's contractions took a swift turn towards birth on Wednesday evening, sorting officer husband Graham had to deliver Isabel Cerys on the couple's bathroom floor.

Despite having no experience, Graham delivered baby Isabel aided only by his sister Alison, who relayed instructions from ambulance service worker Sarah Bishop over the phone.

Elena, from Roth Drive, Brentwood, said: "I had contractions for most of the day, but they were very erratic, so I thought they were Braxton Hicks.

"My sister-in-law was coming to look after my little boy so we could go to hospital. By the time she was round, it was too late to go anywhere.

"Graham had phoned the ambulance and, as he was on the phone, I realised I could feel the baby coming, so I shouted for him to come upstairs."

In the rush, Graham hung up on the ambulance crew, who phoned back and talked to his sister.

Elena said: "The baby came so quickly that when the ambulance people were telling her you should be seeing the head, she was saying 'It's here already'.

"It was quite scary and I was in a bit of a panic.

"But from the time I realised she was coming, her birth was only about 10 minutes."

So how did dad Graham cope with the situation?

"He was calm first of all because he didn't think I was in labour," said Elena.

"It was only when he heard me screaming for him that he realised there was no way we would get there in time and he was quite worried at that point.

"I think like most men, he's a bit squeamish.

"I think he was so pleased with himself and he is really proud of what he has done, but I think he is still in shock.

"I'm so proud of him – he did so well."

Two-year-old son Jack was not so sure. Elena said: "He was hiding for most of it – I think he was a little bit upset."

Despite all the panic around her, baby Isabel is doing well.

Glenn Young, manager of the ambulance service's health and operations centre in Essex, said of his staff: "I'm really proud of Sarah for the way she was able to help this family.

"It was her first time assisting with the delivery of a baby by giving advice over the phone, so the call was extra special for her.

"All of our clinical assessors are trained to keep a cool head and give appropriate clinical advice to callers while the ambulance is on the way.

"The staff in our control room are behind the scenes and almost never have the opportunity to meet callers face-to-face, but they make a big difference to all of our patients, particularly ones such as this mum and newborn."