An unflappable Ilford grandmother helped deliver the baby of a pregnant Gravesend mother after her waters broke unexpectedly on the train to Stratford International.

Newham Recorder: Commuter Mariyana Andreeva helped deliver a baby after a mother went into labour on the train from her home in Gravesend to Stratford.Commuter Mariyana Andreeva helped deliver a baby after a mother went into labour on the train from her home in Gravesend to Stratford. (Image: Archant)

Mariyana Andreeva, 52, of Seymour Gardens, had been dozing off on a Southeastern train back from visiting her grandchildren in Rainham, Kent, when her co-passanger Nathalie Bangama, 34, went into labour on the evening of November 8.

“All of a sudden I heard screaming,” Mariyana said, abruptly stirred from her slumber.

“I was stressed because I didn’t know what was happening.”

But, after shaking off her nerves, Mariyana swooped to Nathalie’s aid.

Newham Recorder: Nathalie Bangama, 34, with her newborn son Heaven. Photo: Nathalie BanagamaNathalie Bangama, 34, with her newborn son Heaven. Photo: Nathalie Banagama (Image: Archant)

“I saw the baby’s head coming,” she told the Recorder.

“I told her to “push, push” because she was having contractions.

“On the third push the baby came out.”

“I took off my jacket and put the baby in it to keep him warm.”

Mariyana, who works in cleaning, said that this was her first, unexpected, foray into midwifery.

However she thinks she was helped by being present at the birth of her grandson four months ago.

Natalie, a beauty therapist, told the Recorder that she and Mariyana have been “on the phone to each other every day” since the childbirth.

She plans to meet Mariyana again soon with her newborn son Heaven.

“She is a lovely lady,” Nathalie said.

Commenting on the ordeal, she said: “I am still in shock and my body is still in shock.

“I am so thankful there we good people on the train.

She spoke fondly of a Stratford station manager, believed to be named Gary, whose hand she squeezed as he reassured her her baby was fine.

The mother-of-two had boarded the 8.42pm train from Gravesend to go to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital after she began experiencing contractions.

Heaven was not due to be born until November 13 – but less than 20 minutes later he had entered into the world.

Paramedics met Nathalie and Heaven at Stratford International and took them to Newham General Hospital.

Southeastern spokesman said: “At around 9pm, we held the train at station to wait for an ambulance, after the mother went into labour and passengers and Southeastern colleagues helped to deliver the baby.”