IT took just six minutes for Warrnambool couple Simone and Will Buckle to welcome their new baby girl into the world.
Saige Violet was born at 9.32pm on Friday night - about six minutes after Mrs Buckle noticed "mild contractions".
Mr Buckle quickly transformed from a carpenter into an obstetrician when he realised waiting for an ambulance was not an option after his wife took a shower and felt the baby crowning.
"Looking back now it's nerve-wracking," he told The Standard.
"But it's pretty awesome, it's something that doesn't happen every day.
"I'm certainly not a doctor or midwife so it was a bit different from my day-to-day work."
Mr Buckle said his daughter was determined to arrive on her due date so there was "literally no time" to think or worry as he laid blankets and towels on the bathroom floor.
"There was no stopping it," he said.
"I could see the baby's head and I went into 'doing what I can' sort of mode."
Mr Buckle quickly became referred to as Doctor Dad when the couple eventually arrived at hospital, for delivering Saige without complication.
She is the family's second child, a sister for two-year-old Angus who was also a quick delivery, taking about 40 minutes from first contraction to birth.
Mr Buckle said another homebirth would probably not be on the cards for any future children, despite the successful outcome.
"Simone definitely doesn't want to go through it again," he laughed.
"I can see the benefits of giving birth at home.
"But having people around you who know what they're doing is probably something I'd prefer.
"I could do it again if I had to."
bziegeler@standard.fairfax.com.au
