Paramedics welcome baby Murphy Grace in unexpected home birth

A Yarrawonga family has thanked Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics for their calm and compassionate care after a surprise home birth that brought baby Murphy Grace safely into the world.

Hannah, already mum to Finn (5) and Vance (3), experienced a very different labour after her previous births each stretched beyond 30 hours. With contractions beginning in the early hours of 29 October 2025, things moved much faster than she anticipated.

She laboured at home with her mum as support while her husband was at work. “I called him at around 12:00pm and said, ‘Okay, this is happening,’” Hannah said. When her waters broke soon after, Hannah realised there was no way she was going in the car to the hospital. Her mum dialled Triple Zero (000), and AV paramedics Karen, Darren and Cain were dispatched, arriving within minutes.

With Hannah’s mum supporting the baby’s head and her husband gathering towels before the arrival of the AV team, they were then met by paramedic Karen, who safely caught little Murphy Grace, who arrived weighing 3.58kg.

Hannah praised the paramedics for creating a supportive and empowering environment during the birth and for allowing her to continue as she was after they arrived. “I was actually really calm,” Hannah said. “It wasn’t what I had planned, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It was just the best experience.”

“Karen, Darren and Cain were calm, lovely and respectful. She said, ‘We are following you, there is no hurry. We will do whatever you need.’”

For Karen, it was a unique experience and the first baby she’s helped deliver in her 12-year career as a paramedic.

“I arrived just in time to catch little Murphy Grace, and I felt her tiny lungs expand for the very first time. It was the most incredible experience, and I had a cheesy grin on my face for many days after,” Karen said.

“As paramedics, we respond to a range of cases every day. It was an absolute privilege to help someone come into the world. It’s certainly a very special job.”

After the birth, paramedics transferred Hannah and Murphy Grace to Northeast Health Wangaratta for observation, where they stayed overnight before returning home.

“I was just ecstatic, I felt so good,” Hannah said. “It was very healing.”

AV Regional Director for Hume Narelle Capp highlighted the professionalism of the attending paramedics who helped ensure a safe and positive outcome for Hannah and her family.

“This was an extraordinary example of calm, skilled and compassionate care. We are incredibly proud of Karen, Darren and Cain for the way they supported Hannah and helped welcome little Murphy Grace safely into the world,” Narelle said.