FOR most mothers, giving birth is a gruelling experience which lasts hours – sometimes even days.

But for hairdresser Gemma Fillary it was over quicker than she could finish chopping her friend’s locks.

Instead of hours of blood, sweat and tears – as labour is for many mums-to-be – it took just 24 minutes for the 28-year-old to give birth to her second child.

After her first contraction, Mrs Fillary’s waters broke after just 20 minutes.

And less than five minutes later, she had given birth to her daughter Lucie Grace — two weeks premature and weighing in at 6lb 3.5oz.

Mrs Fillary, of Brome Way, Carterton, said: “I was just cutting hair as normal and had a little pain.

“I started pushing and Lucie was born.

“A haircut usually takes me longer than 24 minutes.

“My sister Jodie’s boyfriend, Matthew Eaton, joked to me that I can pop them out quicker than he can cook a pizza.”

The full-time mum was cutting her friend Sarah Salcombe’s hair in Southlawn, Witney, at about 4.20pm last Wednesday when she had her first contraction.

She quickly phoned mum Diane Reynolds, who rushed round to take her to her home to Colwell Drive, while Gemma’s sisters Laura, 23, and Jodie, 21, called for an ambulance.

They also alerted Mrs Fillary’s husband Stephen, 29, who was at work in Witney, and her dad Garry, 52, who both raced home.

Just as she arrived at her mum’s house, Mrs Fillary’s waters broke.

Ambulance crew Steve Edwards and Darren Bloy arrived minutes later and realised that there was not enough time to get the expectant mum to hospital.

Instead, surrounded by her husband, parents and sisters, Mrs Fillary gave birth on her mum’s bed.

Mum-of-four Mrs Reynolds, 48, whose fourth daughter Karly is 26, said: “To be honest, Gemma was holding herself together.

“I didn’t panic because I knew from previous experience when she had her first little girl, it was history repeating itself.

“We were absolutely delighted and to think that our granddaughter was born in our bed was beautiful. She is very beautiful.”

She added: “We are very proud of Gemma.

“We call her Fluff as nothing fazes her, she is a very laid-back girl.”

South Central Ambulance spokesman James Keating-Wilkes said: “We are delighted mother and baby are doing well and wish them all the best for the future.”

He added: “Some are quick, some are slow – there are no two births the same.”

It isn’t the first time Mrs Fillary has had a quick delivery – two years ago she gave birth to daughter Katie in just over an hour.