A WOMAN’S life has changed dramatically after she went into a GP surgery thinking she had a kidney infection – and came home with a baby.

Clare Evans, 24, of Crescent Road, Risca, gave birth to a baby girl on October 6 without even realising until her waters broke that she was pregnant.

After a whirlwind labour, Erin Louise Roberts was born at 1.24pm, weighing in at 6lbs 12oz, in the treatment room at Risca Surgery.

Earlier that morning, Miss Evans contacted the out-of-hours surgery at Risca, complaining of pains in her abdomen.

“They told me on the phone that they suspected I had a kidney infection, so advised me to come in later on that day,” she said.

“When I got to the surgery I was in quite a lot of pain and because they thought it was an infection, asked me to give a urine sample. But when I went to the toilet my waters broke.”

Miss Evans was then taken into the treatment room at the surgery. After being examined by a doctor she was informed that they could see a head and that she was nine centimetres dilated.

“I was so shocked; I told them that I didn’t know I was pregnant. My life changed then and there in a matter of seconds.

“I had no signs of pregnancy, I didn’t have any morning sickness and I didn’t have a bump. The first sign was the pain I experienced that morning.”

The on-call midwife, Lisa Thompson and an ambulance was then contacted. But because Miss Evans’ contractions were so close together she was unable to go in the ambulance. The baby then had to be delivered at the surgery by Doctor Susan Emerson and her partners and the midwife. Miss Evans, who was full term, had no pain relief and the birth took half an hour.

Mother and baby were then taken to Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital to be checked over, but they were both healthy and discharged.

Two-week-old Erin was the first baby to be born at Risca Surgery. Nurse Manager, Sarah Bell said: “I can confirm that the baby was born here, it was our very first baby to be delivered on site in over 30 years!”

First-time mum Miss Evans would like to thank the midwife, the doctors and nurses and the paramedics who helped during the labour as they were “absolutely brilliant.”

Miss Evans said: “My friends and family have been great. My sister, who was also extremely shocked has been brilliant and has given me loads of items, including a pram which she used for her daughter.”

“The whole community has been great; everyone has been so helpful and come together, as before I had Erin, I didn’t even have one nappy!”

Miss Evans is now adjusting to motherhood, but says she can’t imagine life without baby Erin.

“I love motherhood, even though it was completely unexpected I wouldn’t change it for the world.”