A mother-of-four who did not know she was pregnant has revealed she gave birth to a healthy baby girl on the toilet, while her husband was on the waiting list for a vasectomy.
Grace, 32, and James Meachim, 34, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, were adamant they would only have three children until 7lbs 5.5oz Sienna made a very unexpected appearance six months ago.
The mother had woken up in the early hours of the morning to take a paracetamol and have a cup of tea because she was feeling run-down, when she suddenly made a dash to the toilet.
Sales advisor Grace, who was about to give birth, had no clue that she was around 37 weeks pregnant, after she had no discernible bump, was taking her pill ‘religiously’ and still had periods.
Grace Meachim, 32, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, gave birth to Sienna in December 2019
But as she sat down on the toilet, Grace felt the unmistakable sensation of her waters breaking and let out a terrified scream.
Her husband and their eldest son Tyler Meachim, 13, came running into the bathroom because they thought she was ‘being attacked’, as Grace shouted for them to call an ambulance because there was ‘something coming’.
Moments after reaching a 999 operator, James had to run to the toilet to catch his baby daughter as Grace gave birth on 5 December, 2019.
When paramedics arrived, they blue-lighted Grace and newborn Sienna to hospital where they were both given a perfect bill of health and sent home.
The family of six including Grace and James with children Tyler, 13, and three-year-old Blake, newborn Sienna and nine-year-old Jessica
Grace and James Meachim, 34, (pictured) were adamant they would only have three children
While they wouldn’t change Sienna’s ‘extra special’ arrival, Grace and James are certain there will not be a baby number five for the Meachim brood.
Grace, said: ‘Within seconds of getting to the toilet, my waters went. It frightened me so much I screamed.
‘It was so surreal. I hadn’t had any build-up to it at all, no pain, nothing.
‘When I’d gone to the loo, I didn’t feel like I was going into labour at all. After three previous pregnancies, I know what that feels like.
She continued: ‘There was a big gush then there was pressure and a mass down there.
James was awaiting a vasectomy when Sienna was born (left). Grace revealed how the birth was like ‘something out of a movie’ (right)
‘I knew then what was happening and I went into shock. All I can remember thinking is “Oh my god, is this really happening?”.’
Grace revealed how the birth was like ‘something out of a movie’ and James had to catch the baby with his hands down the toilet.
She said: ‘My husband and our eldest came running down. James called the ambulance and I was shouting “There’s something coming”.
The mother-of-four spoke of how little Sienna is settling in at home following her surprise arrival
‘He told the operator, “I think it’s a baby but she’s not pregnant”.
‘As soon as he said that he had to throw the phone to Tyler because I screamed “Quick, catch it”.
‘Within seconds James had his hands down the toilet catching the baby, it all happened so quickly.
‘It was very strange, it was like something out of a movie. I just kept saying “I’m sorry” to my husband, because we’d been dead set against any more children.’
She added: ‘James was waiting to be booked in for a vasectomy and I’d planned to up my hours at work so we could start saving for a mortgage.
Three-year-old Blake with Sienna (left). Sienna’s sudden arrival was a huge adjustment for toddler Blake who went to bed as the baby of the family and woke up as a big brother
Sienna (pictured at six months) was born at around 4am much to the disappointment of the ambulance crew who were just minutes late for what would have been their first ever home birth
‘We were blue-lighted to hospital so they could check over Sienna.
‘We’d had the boys’ birthdays in September then it was the lead up to Christmas so I’d done loads more drinking than usual.
‘I’d also been on strong painkillers for a bad shoulder, so they kept us in for a while to make sure she was okay.’
And the mother-of-four spoke of how little Sienna is settling in at home following her surprise arrival.
‘She was perfect and a really good size, I have no idea how I hid that.
‘She was such a nice surprise, she is that little bit extra special to us. And we definitely know she’s here now, she is really coming out of her shell.
‘We wouldn’t change it but it’s definitely no more kids now. I’ve told James he needs to chase up his snip as soon as lockdown is over.’
Sienna was born at around 4am much to the disappointment of the ambulance crew who were just minutes late for what would have been their first ever home birth.
And paramedics weren’t the only people to have funny reactions to the tot’s surprise birth with all Grace’s and James’s friends and family stunned by the news.
Once over the shock, the parents’ loved ones rallied together to make sure that by the time Sienna came home later that day, Grace and James were equipped for their new arrival.
The couple were gifted a Moses basket, clothes and nappies which Grace says gave them some much-appreciated time to adjust to suddenly becoming parents-of-four.
Grace said the family were inundated with support with a number of people dropping off baby supplies for them after Sienna’s arrival
Grace said: ‘The paramedics were gutted when they turned up because it would have been their first home birth, not that I could have given them any notice.
‘Everyone then started to giggle about what had just happened and Tyler called my mum to tell her I’d had another baby.
‘She thought we were joking and turned up at 4am in her pyjamas to see me on the floor, cradling this baby.
‘When James called my mother-in-law she just said “Congratulations” and hung up then called back seconds later to say “Sorry, I just registered what you said”. Everyone was so shocked.
‘I announced it on Facebook as like “Surprise, look what we have done”, and our friends just couldn’t believe it.
‘There were a couple of people who said ‘I knew you were pregnant’. I wish they’d told me.
‘The number of people who turned up at our house before we’d even made it home from hospital with baby bits, it was incredible.
Grace (left) during her pregnancy with three-year-old Blake in 2016 at her friend Kelly Stoor’s baby shower (right)
‘It gave us some time to get used to the idea of Sienna being here.’
While in the delivery suite, waiting for Sienna to be checked over by doctors, James joked that they should name her Volvo because ‘he’d need a bigger car now’.
After settling on Sienna and Alexandra as their top two picks, the parents let the baby girl’s siblings Tyler, Jessica Meachim, nine, and Blake Meachim, three, make the final call.
Sienna’s sudden arrival was a huge adjustment for toddler Blake who went to bed as the baby of the family and woke up as a big brother but Grace says he quickly adapted to his new role.
All of Sienna’s siblings are besotted with their little sister and love to make her smile and giggle (pictured Blake meeting Sienna)
All of Sienna’s siblings are besotted with their little sister and love to make her smile and giggle.
Grace said: ‘The kids all came to the hospital to meet Sienna and at first Blake wouldn’t go near her.
‘I really struggled with that because that night, he had been my baby and he was my last so I’d mummy-ed him a little bit more.
‘He went to bed and then when he woke up I wasn’t there and I’d had another baby.
Grace, who also has Jessica, nine, and three-year-old Blake, revealed how the children have each got a ‘unique bond’ with their surprise little sister Sienna
‘But by the time we brought Sienna home he was like a different child, stroking her and playing with her.’
Grace, who also has Jessica, nine, and three-year-old Blake, revealed how the children have each got a ‘unique bond’ with their surprise little sister Sienna.
She said: ‘They have all got their own unique bonds with her, they’re incredible with her.
‘They’ll be dancing around being silly and Sienna laughs and giggles away.
‘We got into the swing of it all pretty quickly, I enjoy the challenge.’
Grave revealed how the whole family ‘got into the swing’ of having a new arrival fairly quickly. Sienna enjoys laughing with her brothers and sister
In the months leading up to Sienna’s birth, Grace had been having regular periods and taking her contraceptive pill.
The mother had developed a ‘slight lump’ in her tummy which prompted her to take three at-home pregnancy tests just in case – and they all gave negative results.
In her three previous pregnancies, Grace not only had very visible bumps but also experienced the usual pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness.
The mother was due to have an ultrasound of the ‘cyst’ in January 2020 but Sienna was born a month earlier
Grace decided to visit her GP in September, when she would have been around five months pregnant, and the doctor conducted another pregnancy test which also came back negative.
After having a feel of her stomach, the GP diagnosed Grace with a recurring cyst as the mum had suffered one the previous year which dissipated on its own.
The mother was due to have an ultrasound of the ‘cyst’ in January 2020 but Sienna was born a month earlier.
Grace said: ‘With all my pregnancies before Sienna I knew straight away. With my first and third, I had huge bumps.
‘I didn’t show as quickly with my second but in the last eight weeks, my bump really popped.
Grace (pictured right) revealed how they had planned to have no more children after Jessica (front left), Tyler (back left) and Blake (right)
‘But with Sienna, I had no signs, no symptoms, nothing. All my pregnancy tests were negative, everything was regular throughout.
‘The only reason I took the tests was because I had a slight lump in my tummy but it wasn’t a massive or noticeable bump.’
She continued: ‘The year before I had had a cyst that eventually dispersed so when I went to the doctor again last year about the lump, she checked it out and said it felt the same as last time.
Grace revealed how all of her pregnancy tests were negative with Sienna (pictured) and she was still taking her contraceptive pill
‘Because I was healthy otherwise, they didn’t want to do surgery to remove it but said I’d probably have a scan in the new year.
‘I was happy with that. I didn’t want to take the time off work for surgery and I wasn’t in any pain so I was happy to wait. That was all just a few months before Sienna arrived.’