A baby was born at home with the assistance of military personnel from the National Republican Guard (GNR) in Marinhais, Salvaterra de Magos, on Thursday night.
In a statement released on Saturday, the authority mentioned that they “assisted a 31-year-old woman who went into labor at her residence” following an alert.
“Following a communication reporting a childbirth occurring within a residence in Marinhais, the Guard’s officers immediately went to the location to provide initial support,” the statement read.
The Salvaterra de Magos Volunteer Firefighters and the National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) arrived “moments later,” ensuring the “continuity of assistance.”
The mother and the newborn were later transported to a hospital.
The statement highlights that “the quick response and coordination between the GNR, the firefighters, and INEM were crucial in ensuring continuous support for the mother and baby, leading to their transfer to a hospital.”
According to the local newspaper Notícias do Sorraia, the birth occurred around 8:00 PM on Thursday, after the father called for help via 112 when the woman went into labor.
The mother lost some blood but is “out of danger.” Both were taken to Santarém District Hospital.
About 150 babies have been born in ambulances, at home, or on the street (just) this year
This week, Health Minister Ana Paula Martins revealed that home births are increasing and considered such deliveries unsafe.
In statements to the Parliamentary Health Committee, the minister said that around 150 deliveries have been registered this year in non-hospital environments (in ambulances, on the street, or at home) and noted that, although she lacks objective data, reports from INEM rescues indicate these home births are increasing.
“Home births are never safe. It’s an option, (…) but it should be stated that some (…), fortunately, have not had fatal outcomes because INEM arrives in time, an SIV [ambulance] is dispatched, and the birth occurs in the ambulance. Otherwise, we would have had fatal outcomes,” she said.
Home births are on the rise, revealed the Health Minister, considering that these births are never safe and have only avoided fatal outcomes due to INEM’s response.
Lusa | 13:07 – 17/09/2025
At the end of April, the Health Minister had acknowledged the need to reduce the number of births occurring in ambulances. Ana Paula Martins noted, however, that babies have always been born in ambulances, and this will continue to happen at times, as it is unavoidable in some situations. “But naturally, this is by no means our goal,” she stated.
