A mum who was told a bath would ease her pregnancy pains got the shock of her life when she ended up giving birth in the tub.

Gemma Boughey, of Winsford, who was nine days overdue with her second baby,  had been instructed by staff at Leighton Hospital in Crewe to ‘have a bath and some painkillers’ after experiencing crippling pains at her home in Linwood last  week.

Even though the 27-year-old’s waters had broken earlier that day, the hospital advised her a bath would alleviate her pain.

But as she lay in the water the contractions got worse, and Gemma called her mum Susan for help.

When she arrived, she decided to take Gemma to hospital but as Gemma stood up to get out of the bath, she was stunned to see her baby’s head – leaving Susan no choice but to deliver her grandchild.

“Mum had to catch the baby while my partner Andrew was on the phone to the hospital who were giving him instructions which he was shouting to Mum,”  said Gemma, who has an older son, Harvey, 3.

“Joshua arrived in just 48 minutes weighing 8lb 13oz – it happened very quickly.

“I had already been to the hospital that  morning when my waters broke but they sent me home because I wasn’t having contractions.

“They said if I didn’t go into labour within 24 hours I would be induced the  next day.”

Gemma explained: “When I started having pains that night at around 9pm, they told me to have a bath and take paracetamol.

“But the pain got unbearable and that’s when I called Mum who could see how much it hurt me, so she rang the hospital who told her to bring me in.

“But when I stood up the head was already coming out!”

Gemma Boughey with her newborn son Joshua who was delivered by grandmother Susan in the bath, pictured here with Gemma's other son Harvey

Gemma’s grandmother Jean Boughey, 77, said: “I think it’s an incredible story. Not many mums can say they deliver their own grandchildren!

“After giving birth, Gemma walked downstairs all calm as if she’d just finished having a bath. 

“As she left she casually told her mum to clean the bath as she thought it might look a bit messy.”