Call the midwoof! Belle the Staffordshire Bull Terrier becomes the UK’s first dog birth

A two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Belle, is believed to be one of the first dogs in the UK to ever be admitted to a hospital ward.

The smart dog was serves as a delivery partner for owner Amee Tomkin, 33, who has severe anxiety and ADHD.

Belle guided Amee through her fertility treatments, scans and midwife appointments throughout her pregnancy.

The dog was so well behaved that Milton Keynes University Hospital allowed her to support the nervous Amee in the maternity ward before she underwent a C-section in April.

Loyal dog Belle even waited for Amee when she came out of the theater and was the first to meet Olly, her newborn son, in April 2023.

Belle saw Olly first and welcomed him to the world with a lick. Now she never leaves his side

Amee, from Milton Keynes, said: ‘Belle waited patiently in the hospital room when I went to the theater to have my baby.

“And when I was driven back, she was the first person Olly met – I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Since she was a little puppy, Belle has been trained by Amee as a service dog, helping her deal with her fears, autism and panic attacks.

And Amee said that it was clear from the start that Belle naturally stood by her.

For the past year and a half, the pup has accompanied Amee wherever she went — and when she fell pregnant with her son Olly after 12 years of fertility treatments, nothing changed.

She attended all of her pregnancy scans with her, where doctors decided a C-section would be better for Amee’s autism and anxiety because she would know exactly what was going on.

Amee said: ‘Belle can detect symptoms of a panic attack and, for example, helps me find exits from crowded places when she senses I’m feeling anxious.

The two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier accompanied Amee, 33, through fertility treatments, as well as scans and midwife appointments throughout her pregnancy

Amee, from Milton Keynes, said, “Belle waited patiently in the hospital room when I went to the theater to have my baby.”

Doctors decided a C-section would be better for Amee’s autism and anxiety because she would know exactly what was going on

The prospect of giving birth without Belle by her side worried Amee, so she asked her midwife at Milton Keynes University Hospital if she could accompany her to the ward.

‘She presses elevator buttons and even holds my debit card against the machine to pay when we go shopping.

“Basically, without her, I’m too scared to leave the house. I would just stay indoors all day and every day.

“She came with me to all my appointments during my pregnancy and kept me calm – I couldn’t have done it without her.”

The prospect of giving birth without Belle by her side worried Amee, so her midwife at Milton Keynes University Hospital asked if she could accompany her to the ward.

Once the green light was given, the doctors put the dog to sleep on Amee’s hospital bed.

Amee said, “She came with me to all my appointments during my pregnancy and kept me calm – I couldn’t have done it without her.”

She added: “As soon as she saw Olly, she gently sniffed him and gently licked his face to welcome him. Since then she has never left his side.”

She rested her nose gently on her stomach, near her navel.

Amee said, “It was like she was checking the baby’s heartbeat when I was pregnant.

“She even learned to tell the difference between the baby’s heartbeat and mine. It was such a reassurance.

“Belle was allowed to stay with me before I went to the theater and we got her own room so she could stay with me and the baby afterwards.

“As soon as she saw Olly, she gently sniffed him and gently licked his face. She’s never left his side since then.’

Milton Keynes University Hospital has been contacted for comment.