Giving birth standing up on a verandah in the middle of a howling gale isn't what most mothers picture when they think about bringing a baby into the world.
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But Dombarton mother-of-two Ruthie Lawson had little choice when, while walking to the car on the night of June 25, she suddenly felt baby Velvet crowning.
"I could feel a contraction coming so I waddled over to the tables on the front deck," Mrs Lawson said. "And with that contraction I leant over on the table for support and ... my water broke and her head came out.
"I was calling out 'help me please' - it was very dramatic."
Despite the drama, Mrs Lawson said Velvet was born "in about two minutes" without complications.
It all happened as 115km/h winds screamed down from the Illawarra escarpment.
"The baby didn't even cry - she just got hit by the wind and got a bit stumped," Mrs Lawson said. "We reckon it was the best outcome for that situation."
Meantime, Mrs Lawson's husband James had called neighbouring gynaecologist John Walton, who came over to assist.
Mr Lawson said both he and his wife went into "auto pilot" during the birth.
"It was like just do what you can," he said. "A bit of shock kicked in."
Paramedics later arrived and took Mrs Lawson to hospital, where she spent "a few hours" before being allowed to return home.
"The paramedics put three jackets on me just to walk to the car it was that cold," she said. "We went to hospital, they checked us out and we got to come home a few hours later."