Ms Booth with paramedics at the Radisson Edwardian Grafton hotel

Published: 4 April, 2013
by TOM FOOT

WHEN this little baby asks how he got his middle name he won’t believe his ears.

George Reggie Eades was born in the Radisson Edwardian Grafton on March 16 after his parents were turned away from University College Hospital.

Michelle Booth, 39, and Richard Eades, 45, checked in at the four-star Tottenham Court Road hotel after being asked to leave the hospital’s maternity unit at 10.30am.

Four hours later, despite repeated calls to midwives, Michelle gave birth to a little bundle of joy – on just two paracetamol.

The happy couple have named their special delivery “Reg”, an acronym of the hotel’s initials R.E.G.

Ms Booth said: “They said [at the hospital] I was in the early stages of labour, but it felt a lot further on. Basically, they said there was nowhere for us to go.

“Richard found the hotel. I think it was the first one he came across. It’s really hard to check in at that time of day normally, apparently.

"But all the staff were brilliant – they upgraded us, which was really sweet. We were all laughing and joking with them about room service and saying ‘we promise we won’t have a baby’. But then we did.”

The parents, who have recently moved to Hackney from South End Green, opted for a “hypno­­birthing” technique, recommended by UCH to reduce the fear of labour in first-time mothers.

Ms Booth said: “I was thinking this natural childbirth malarky is a lot harder than I thought. The truth of it was, I was actually very close to giving birth. By 1.30 it was really full on. I was making a lot of noise. I was actually worried about getting thrown out of the hotel, so I was shouting into the duvet.”

She said her partner Richard rang the hospital again but was told “you’re still not there, it is very early days”.

Then, at 2.30pm, Ms Booth had a “mad thought”. She said: “I thought ‘imagine if I’m giving birth’ – that’s the sort of thing you only hear about on TV. Then I put my hands down and felt a baby’s head on the wrong side of my body. Richard came in and caught the baby.

“I know I had gone all hippy with the hypnotherapy but I didn’t expect to have a completely natural birth.”

She said: “It was a bizarre moment. We looked at each other like ‘did we just do that? Have we really had a baby in a hotel?’ Then it was complete elation.”

The couple rang reception and six paramedics came up, cut the cord and carried Ms Booth 100 yards across the road and into the hospital.

Mr Eades said: “The paramedics were wonderful – one came on a bicycle then the others from two ambulances. Would you know any way we could contact them to say thanks?

“The team at the hotel were great too, I went back the next day with chocolates as thanks, the manager was very sweet and didn’t charge any extra cleaning costs.”

Ms Booth added: “We thought we’ve had quite an exciting story – and quite romantic too – that we would want to tell George when he grows up. I’m very proud. We called him Reggie after the Radisson Edwardian Grafton.”

George Reggie Eades weighed eight pounds eight ounces and is fit and healthy.

Pat O’Brien, UCLH Clinical Director, said: “The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that any woman assessed to be in the very early stages of labour, and who is giving birth for the first time, is advised to go home until labour is more advanced, keeping in contact with the hospital by phone to advise on progress.

“This is perfectly normal and research shows that women do better in familiar surroundings where they can relax.

“We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Michelle and her partner on the birth of their healthy baby boy.”