Baby Born On NY Bus

Within 24 hours of a baby girl being born on a New York subway, another baby girl was born on a bus in Brooklyn. The mother was laboring on the bus when the bus driver noticed her. At first he didn't know what was wrong with her so he drove on.

The woman solved the mystery when she yelled that her baby was coming. She then pulled her jeans down and the bus driver and a nearby passenger caught the baby before she hit the floor.

Read the entire story: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/12/2009-06-12_by_pete_donohue.html

Premature Baby Born On Subway

A New York subway conductor "delivered" a baby girl after a laboring woman's water broke. Although the baby was a month premature, she is doing fine.

It's interesting that even though the conductor only pulled the mom's jeans off and caught the emerging baby, the parents were very grateful to her for this assistance. Why the expectant father didn't think of doing this himself is puzzling. It's also interesting that this woman was lying on the subway floor laboring while people stood around staring at her and had to be told by the conductor to back up and give the woman space.

This story just reaffirms that parents need to understand that they may not make it to the hospital in time and that they need to know what to do just in case.

Read the whole story: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/12/2009-06-12_womans_water_breaks_on_r_train_subway_conductor_delivers_baby_girl.html

Husband Catches Baby, Again

An Australian man caught his daughter as she was born in the bathroom of his home. The mother gave birth quickly, after a 40 minute labor. The parents weren't too surprised since the same scene had occurred with the birth of their son 2 years ago. Still, they called an ambulance which arrived eighteen minutes later and helped with the cord cutting. (Something that needn't be done immediately if the baby is born without any complications. It is best to leave the cord intact until it stops pulsating.)

Check out the story here.

Surprise home birth: Mother Delivers Standing Up!

The Queensland Times reported that a mother gave birth at home without any medical assistance as she was preparing to depart to the hospital. Before making it to her car, the mother felt the baby coming. While standing up, she caught her baby herself like a "basketball."

Even though baby was breathing and crying healthily when the paramedics arrived, the mother and baby were taken to the hospital where they remained for the day.

Quick-acting parents use CPR to save baby's life

When Leila Natalini was three days old she experienced cardiac arrest. Her parents, who had become CPR certified when Leila's older brother was born, saved her life by administering CPR. Although the parents received helpful instructions over the phone from the 9-1-1 dispatcher while emergency crews raced to the scene, their familiarity with CPR probably prevented her death or complications.

Read the entire story.

Mum forced into home birth after floods cut off road

This is total Essex.com reported today the story of a "mum" that was forced into giving birth at home after floods made roads impassible and she could not make it to the hospital.

Four or five minutes after the arrival of paramedics, the baby was born without complication. Read the entire story.

Woman Delivers Her Own Baby On Side Of Road

It has been reported by the New Zealand Herald, that a doctor delivered her own baby on the side of the road as she was enroute to the hospital. After having intense contractions, she told her husband she was crowning and instructed him to pull over. She was quoted as saying:

"I said, `You have to pull over. I think I'm crowning and I'm happy to have this baby by the side of the road'," she said.

"Next thing I just scooped him (the baby) up on my tummy in the front seat."

I guess this helps dispel the notion that a woman can't deliver her own baby.

Woman Gives Birth on Plane

It was reported by Salon that on Dec. 31, 2008 a woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl while on a transatlantic flight. In a news video, the news reporters stated that, "Lucky, for this new mom, there were two doctors on board." The passengers clapped for the doctors.

The article states that when one of the doctors examined the laboring woman, the baby's head was coming out, so he pulled on it. According to my studies, pulling on a baby's head is not necessary and can even be detrimental. Therefore, I give thumbs down to this doctor and his assistance.

Preparing for Unexpected Labor

I have longed believed that every woman should be prepared to give birth medically unassisted. Having no knowledge about how to birth without assistance doesn't seem wise. Many women experience precipitious, or quick labors. During many such labors couples are terrified and risk their lives driving like crazy to reach the hospital. People have died while speedily transporting to a hospital. How much safer to simply deliver their baby themselves and call for assistance.

Years ago I wrote an editorial about a couple who raced to the hospital called Safe At Home. Today I read an article encouraging women to learn about Sudden Home Birth: What to Do
How to Handle an Unexpected Labor and Delivery. The author writes:

...My doctor also advised me to be prepared for the unlikely, but possible, chance of an emergency home labor and quick birth. Because of this, I read everything I could about giving home births.

Even though I made it to the hospital, information about how to handle sudden labor and delivery came in handy later, when a complete stranger started to give birth at a shopping mall. I was standing next to her when she collapsed, moaning, and was able to help her until medical assistance arrived, just as the baby's head emerged from between her legs.

Because of this, I think every pregnant woman should know how to handle an unexpected home birth. If the information doesn't help you, it could help someone you know.

Sudden Home Birth: What to Do
How to handle an unexpected home birth
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