Mum gives birth in back of taxi

EXPRESS delivery ... Anne-Marie, Martin and baby Raegan

A speedy delivery was on the way for a mum who gave birth to a baby girl in the back of a taxi — yards away from the Royal Oldham Hospital.

When Anne-Marie Griffin’s waters broke at her home in Middleton, just before 2.00am on Saturday, she immediately started having strong contractions and knew she didn’t have much time to get to hospital.

Her boyfriend, Martin Lowe, was at his mum’s but his phone was on answer-machine mode, so Miss Griffin had to ring her mum Lucy to rush round to her Middleton Junction home in a taxi.

But when they reached the hospital, the now mum-of-four, of Andrew Street, said there was no chance she was getting out of the car, announcing she would give birth there and then.

Her mum raced into the hospital to get doctors and within half-an-hour, baby Raegan Lowe came into the world, weighing a healthy 7lb, 13oz. Shafiq Khan, manager of Diamond Cars — the firm which picked her up — said it was his company’s policy to charge a £40 valet fee, but as it was an unusual occasion, he agreed to waive the fee and wished her congratulations.

Miss Griffin, 31, said: “I was a bit annoyed when I thought I was going to have to pay the valet fee.

“I know people are sick in taxis but you can’t help giving birth.

“I only had four contractions and then she was born. There was no chance I was getting out of that taxi.

“My son Logan was quick as well — he was born in two hours!”

Miss Griffin’s other two daughters, Gabrielle, 14, and Demi-Leigh, 11, both took over seven hours to deliver.

She added: “It hasn’t put me off having children — in fact, I want more but my boyfriend said no!”