A pregnant woman whose waters broke while she was isolated by floodwaters has safely given birth to a baby boy.
First-time mother Mamata Pun Rama went into labour on Friday night in the midst of major flooding in the central-west NSW, with the flood peak expected to reach its highest point in 70 years.
By Friday night the water had already cut the town into two, created inland "islands" and forced 1,000 residents to evacuate — but her unborn child couldn't wait for better conditions for his big arrival.
"A treatment pack was quickly sent across the floodwater to off-duty midwife Judi, who attended their home and determined it was time for Mamata to go to hospital," a spokesperson for Western NSW Local Health District said.
She and partner Chitra Pun Rama were among 10 flood rescues, with the SES using a specialist vehicle to navigate floodwater.
"We did have a really interesting moment last night where our crews got out to assist a woman who had gone into labour, we got her over to shore and out to hospital quite quickly," SES spokesperson Adam Jones said.
"It was a really happy moment for everyone to be involved in such a great part of someone's life."
On Saturday, first-time mother Mamata and partner Chitra Pun Rama welcomed a son, Imaan, at Forbes Hospital.
The Western New South Wales Local Health District said mum, dad and the midwifery team were all "over the moon" and offered their congratulations to the new parents and baby Imaan who "is blissfully unaware of the incredible circumstances surrounding his delivery."
