What to do if your baby is coming before you reach the hospital

Giving birth before reaching the hospital is rare, but labor can move unexpectedly fast, especially for people who've been through it before.

Driving the news: Mom-to-be Karollyn and her partner, Nate, were driving through Golden Gate Park on Saturday when gridlock forced them to pull over and call 911 as she went into labor, the San Francisco Standard reports.

• A doula who also happened to be stuck nearby helped deliver their daughter before paramedics arrived.

🤰So, what should you do if you find yourself about to birth your child into the world but far from a hospital, bed or a delivery room? We asked Maya de Paula Hanika, a certified birth and postpartum doula with the Bay Area's BORN Collective for advice.

📞 Know when to call 911: If the person in labor starts involuntarily bearing down, says the baby is coming or feels intense pressure in their rectum or vagina — similar to the overwhelming need to have a bowel movement — stop trying to reach the hospital and call for help, Hanika told Axios.

• Deep, guttural grunting and being unable to move or resist pushing can also signal that birth is imminent.

🚨 If the baby starts coming: Put 911 on speaker and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Don't try to stop the birth or pull on the baby's head.

• Get the birthing person close to the ground or another stable surface to reduce the risk of the baby falling.
• The support person should stay close to help receive the baby and offer reassurance as the newborn emerges.

👶 The good news: When labor progresses this quickly, in most cases that means it's going well and the baby can be delivered safely, Hanika added.

• Still, call 911 as soon as possible so paramedics can respond if complications arise. Significant bleeding after delivery is one of the biggest concerns for birthing parents.

🤱Once the baby is born: Place the newborn directly on the birthing parent's chest, dry them and cover both with towels, blankets or clothing to keep them warm.

• If the baby isn't crying or breathing normally, tell the 911 dispatcher immediately and follow their instructions.
• Don't cut or pull on the umbilical cord or try to remove the placenta.

🧺 Be prepared: Keep clean towels in the car as the due date approaches.

⏰ The bottom line: Don't wait until labor becomes overwhelming to leave for the hospital.

• First-time parents should leave when contractions are two to three minutes apart or when the pregnant person begins to feel intense rectal pressure.
• For people who've given birth before, leave once contractions become very strong, Hanika said.

🫡 May this be the most useful advice you never end up needing.