The day I almost delivered a baby...................

[Paul (AR)]

There are 7 of us First Responders with the Volunteer Fire Department where I live. We are trained in basic first-aid and CPR. Now a First Responder is just what the title means, we are the first ones called out for traffic accidents or for medical attention until the Paramedics get there. Most of the time, we just comfort the person until help arrives.
One afternoon I just got off work and was almost home, I had the fire department radio on and was half heartily listening to various police and paramedic calls, mostly thinking what I was going to do about supper, then I heard it, my fire department pager going off followed by "Woman having a baby" and address. First thing came to my mind was... a complete blank. Then my training took over and I grabbed the mike and reported I was in route. I was thinking I know baby CPR but no where did they teach us how to deliver a baby. I kept listening for someone else to say they were responding also, but no such luck, I'm on my own. All kinds of scenarios kept going through my mind, all were bad, then...I was there. I pulled into the front yard and jumped out of my truck and the first thing I see is a little old lady at the front door pointing into the house an saying "She's in here, she's in here". I'm thinking what did I get myself into as I walked up to the front door and into the house. The room was dark and it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust and I could make out an unmade bed in the center of the room with no one in it, I'm thinking good, no one there having a baby, I look to the right and see a young woman sitting in a wooden chair wearing a loose fitting white blouse and blue jeans, another plus, she's not having the baby yet and I got plenty of time. I tell her that I'm from the fire department and ask what seams to be the problem. She says the baby is pushing down hard and she is having sharp pains down below. I'm thinking OOH Boy, she's having the baby, maybe not if her water hasn't broke yet, so I ask her if her water has broken, she says she's been leaking a couple of days now. I'm thinking OOOOH Boy, she's having the baby, maybe not if this is her first baby, aren't first babies usually late? I ask her if this is her first baby, she says no, this is her fourth baby, I'm thinking OOOOOOH Boy, she's having the baby, what am I going to do now, then I hear it... the sweet sound of an approaching siren. About that time I look out the window and see the paramedic truck pull up and two female paramedics get out. I've never felt so relieved and said a short thank you prayer to the Lord. The paramedics didn't mess around, they loaded her up and took off to the hospital while I walked back to my trunk with shaking legs.

 

[Pete in MI]

you were blessed to have the paramedics arrive when they did

Though I was never on a Fire Department or considered a First Responder, I had taken Advanced First Aid throught the American Red Cross a long time back. Part of that training was in delivering babies. Luckily, I never had to use that knowledge but did have a great time doing first aid at local civic events for a couple years.

The best story I can tell would be of an event in Frankenmuth Michigan - a German town. They had good old German music - some high school kids came from Germany and were playing music when one of the musicians got a bloody nose. My partner and I spoke no German. None of the kids spoke English. We could tell what the problem was but there was that language barrier that kept us from keeping our patient calm. From the way the other kids were talking to our 'patient' we gathered he was being heckled by his buddies. It was pretty much confirmed when our patient suddenly raised his right hand and gave the universal middle finger to the other kids. We all broke out laughing as we said "that we understand"? We got the bleeding stopped and they went back to playing music.

That's how I got my biker name back in the 80s - 'Patcher' - because I always carried a first aid bag on my motorcycle and rendered first aid when ever someone needed patching up.

Thanks for the great story Paul - I'd have done the same thing - even with training.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

For being a first responder and for the great story! God works in mysterious ways doesn't He! I was waiting for you to say that the lady said no not me the dog in the closet! I have been there for four C-sections! I think I could do one with my eyes closed!
Also helped a calf be born!

 

[Mike Chgo area]

n/t

 

[MI$$OURI BETTY]

if you would have had to deliver the baby, I know you would have and done a good job, too. Even husbands and children have delivered babies. My granddaughter, Jennifer and her husband Brian, delivered her 3rd baby, Eve. She was in the bathroom sitting on the camode, when whamo...the little girl decided she wanted to enter this big old world! Jenny hollored for Brian and she delivered her with his help and, after calling the doctor, she and Eve went to the hospital in the ambulance...but everything was fine and she didn't stay long...so Eve has something to tell her children and grand-children, if the end of earth's age as we know it doesn't happen before she becomes older like me!

Never know what mission in life you will be called upon to help fulfill, so congrats on responding to an urgent need! Was it a boy or girl or do you know?

God Bless!
Betty