The Doctor Is Out! O.C. Newborn Delivered By Firefighters, Paramedics, 911 Operator
SEAL BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A newborn in Orange County decided not to wait for the doctor or a hospital.
Who needs a hospital when you have the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway near the Seal Beach exit?
The baby girl was born in traffic on Saturday night.
KCAL9's Jennifer Kastner says the little girl and her parents were fortunate to be able to reach out to virtual strangers.
First, there was a hectic 911 call from the father saying the mother's water just broke.
That mother is now recovering at Los Alamitos Medical Center.
When the 911 operator realized the birth was imminent the operator asked for the couple to stop the car.
"They asked us to pull over," said mom Anuradha Suratkal, "and then the firefighters came with the paramedics."
Medics who helped deliver the newborn gathered to take a photo and share in the happy occasion -- just a couple hours after dispatch was coaching the father over the phone.
Paramedic Randy Ripkin told Kastner a baby delivery was a first for him.
"I don't know that I've delivered a baby on the freeway before," he said, smiling.
The baby's head was already crowning when first responders arrived.
The father --who was driving-- was able to pull over by the fast lane while cars were whizzing by.
"They [the drivers] had some place they wanted to be, and they didn't realize what was going on at that time," said Stephen Homer with the Los Alamitos Fire Department.
The little girl is healthy.
"They did a great job," said mom.
The parents have not yet picked out a name, Kastner reports.
It was mom's third baby.