A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy has been praised for turning ‘emergency midwife’ after his mum went into labour almost three weeks before she was due.

Nathan Shields took on the role of medic when his little brother Charlie George decided to make an early entry into the world.

When mum Jayne went into labour almost three weeks before she was due, Nathan worked with stepdad Alex McKnight to deliver the baby boy at their home in Harris Street, Dentons Green.

Alex was woken by his 31-year-old wife at 4am on Tuesday, December 10. The 36-year-old, a process technician at Walkers Snack Foods in Skelmersdale, told the Star: “The baby wasn’t due until December 27 but Jayne woke me because she had felt a few ‘little twinges’. We had a cup of tea and timed her contractions then went to the bathroom and she said she thought we ought to go to the hospital.

“Soon after she hit the deck on all fours and started screaming. Nathan came to see what was going on and I phoned 999.

“The call handler was really helpful and when I told her the baby’s head was out she said we had better deliver the baby ourselves.

“Nathan was really helpful. He put a pillow under his mum’s head and brought towels.

“He was a real hero. I think the actual birth only took a minute and a half and the baby arrived weighing in at 6lbs 10oz.

“Jayne went into labour at 4.30am and Charlie George was born at 4.47am. I made sure the baby’s cord was free then I sat him on his mum’s chest and the ambulance arrived at 5pm.

“Nathan helped me throughout, he was a star.”

The St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School pupil is also a keen member of St Helens Town under 10s football team.

The family had to go to Whiston Hospital because Charlie George’s temperature was low but after a few hours in an incubator he was discharged and returned home.

They say baby Charlie is the best Christmas present they could wish for.