There are lots of things which bind friends together, shared experiences create lasting memories, but delivering your best friend’s baby must rank as one of the most overwhelming.

When Sharice Foxwell planned the birth of her second child, she considered a home birth but was concerned about the safety aspects. She opted for a hospital delivery but baby Aubree, who was born on August 31st, had other ideas.

Sharice told the Ross Gazette: “At 6.30am I knew I had gone into labour. I rang my birthing partner but her phone was on silent, so I let my friend Catherine Gillett know. She then arrived within a few minutes while I was on the phone to the hospital.”

Sharice said that the person on the other end of the phone talked to her to keep her calm, and reassured her that an ambulance was on its way. Within a couple of minutes, however, Sharice had to start pushing and then Aubree arrived. Her birthing partner arrived just after the ambulance and was very disappointed to have missed it.

A midwife then arrived who checked mother and baby, who was a very healthy 7lb 6oz.

Sharice added that since having her baby at home, she would highly recommend a planned home delivery. She said it was very relaxing; after everyone else had gone and she was able to sit on her own sofa with a cup of tea.

Catherine told the Ross Gazette that everything has become a bit of a blur since she acted as midwife.

She told the Gazette that the day started like any other. She has three jobs and her first that day was at Merton House Hotel, where she due to start at 8am.

Then she had a text from Sharice to say that her birthding partner was not answering her call and Catherine offered to take Sharice to the hospital before returning to work.

But as Catherine arrived she knew that there wa no time to get to the hospital. The person Sharice was speaking to her advised Catherine to stay calm and gather up lots of towels. She said: “All I kept thinking about was that I was supposed to be preparing breakfast for Merton House.”

The person on the phone kept telling Catherine to stay calm and to look to see if she could see the ambulance. She said to let her know when she could see the head. Catherine said: “I was quite calm at that point, thinking we still had time before the ambulance arrived, but then I turned back from the window and could see the head. I had a few seconds feeling panicy, but then everything went calm and the were just a few pushes and the baby was born.

“I had to check the umbilical cord was not around her neck and when I saw it wasn’t, I felt calm again and gave the baby a rub and handed her to Sharice. That was when everything just hit me and I burst into tears.”

Catherine said that she has spent quite a bit of time with the family since Aubree was born and it has been so nice to have lots of cuddles but she added: “I certainly did not feel broody after that, it was definitely a great contraceptive.”

She told the Gazette that she was really glad that she was there but it is not something she would rush to do again. She added, I really did not do a lot, but Sharice is a superwoman.

Sharice is really happy with her two little girls who are getting on really well, she said that Anavae, who is two, loves her baby sister and like to stroke Aubree gently.