Baby’s dramatic roadside arrival

One of Meath's first babies of 2011 made a very dramatic entry into the world in the early hours of New Year's Day when she was born in a jeep just off the M3 motorway as her parents were making their way to the Coombe Hospital. Little Isabella was born to Tara and Michael Gerbola of Ardbraccan, Navan, at around 2.45am in their jeep at the side of the road as her parents frantically tried to find their way to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, after realising their baby was not going to wait until they could get to the Coombe. However, impatient Isabella was not even going to wait that long. In the panic of the situation, the Gerbolas could see Blanchardstown Hospital but could not get to it in time and are very grateful to a taxi driver who stopped and brought the couple and their new baby to Connolly Hospital after the roadside birth. Isabella, the couple's third child, weighed in at 6lbs 6oz. The Gerbolas also have a six-year-old son, Blake, and four-year-old son, Michael, who welcomed their mum and baby sister home on Monday. Tara explained that Isabella was due on 5th January but came a few days early. There was “no holding her backâ€, said her proud mum this week. Tara and Michael had enjoyed a family day with Michael's parents, sister and her family on New Year's Eve with no inclination of the drama that was to occur within hours. “We had a lovely dinner and a lovely evening. I had a few pains during the day but nothing major and thought it would probably be tomorrow or the next day. Everyone went to bed but, at about 2am, I thought we better make our way to the hospital to be on the safe side,†recalled Tara. “All of a sudden, it came fast and furious, and came on me like a thunderbolt. My waters broke in the jeep and we decided I wouldn't make it to The Coombe so we decided to go to the nearest hospital which was Blanchardstown.†However, having never been at this hospital before, the couple took what they thought was the right exit but could not find the hospital. Michael had pulled over and was asking for directions and the couple were in quite a panic at that stage. Baby Isabella was born in the front seat of the family vehicle and father Michael placed the baby on Tara's chest as they checked the baby's nose and airways to make sure she was OK. “We didn't really know what to be looking for, really. She made a few little cries but nothing like in the movies,†said Tara. “We were very worried about the next step as we had no medical professionals around. I was in shock. It all happened so quickly. Having had two children, I knew the situation but it was never in my mind that we wouldn't make it to hospital. “By the luck of God, a gentleman in a taxi stopped. He was telling us where the hospital was and as he looked in the passenger side, he saw the baby was on my chest and he brought us to hospital in the taxi. He was fantastic and took us directly to the A&E where they cut the (umbilical) cord in the jeep and made sure Isabella was OK.†Tara and Michael said they would like to thank the taxi driver who helped them for his kindness as well as the staff of both Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and The Coombe Hospital. “We were so relieved she was OK. If it had been the week of the bad weather, I hate to think of that. Numerous things could have happened. We are so blessed she was OK,†said Tara. Tara and Michael run Gerbola's Circus, which is one of three circuses in the country supported by the Arts Council. The couple have been in the circus business all their lives and decided to start their own circus 10 years ago. Their next tour commences in February so Tara said she won't have very long for maternity leave. Tara is originally from Laois and Michael from Lucan and the couple have been living in Ardbraccan for eight years. Their son, Blake, goes to Bohermeen NS and Michael (4) attends Montessori locally. Meanwhile, four babies were born to Meath parents at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on New Year's Day. Twins Luke and Jake were born to Navan couple Emma Deane and David Power at 10.12am and 10.13am by Caesarean section. The identical twins were born at 34 weeks with Luke weighing 4lbs and 8 ounces, and Jake weighing 3lbs and 5 ounces. The boys remain in the special care unit of the Lourdes Hospital. Baby Saidbhe McMahon was born at 5.59am on New Year's Day to parents Sarah and Peadar McMahon from Drumconrath. Saidbhe was due on New Year's Eve and is the couple's first baby. She weighed 7lbs and 6oz and mum Sarah and baby Saidbhe returned home to Drumconrath on Monday.