Woman Gives Birth Along I-5

Mom, dad and newborn baby are healthy, officials said

By Vikki Vargas and Bill French

| Friday, Jun 8, 2012 | Updated 10:38 AM PDT

Vikki Vargas

This baby couldn't wait. A pregnant woman gave birth along Interstate 5 Wednesday morning while her husband was driving her to the hospital. Vikki Vargas reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on June 7, 2012.

Woman Gives Birth Along 5 Freeway

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Picture rush hour traffic at 8 a.m. along I-5 in Orange County. It's not the best recipe for a quick trip to the delivery room.

The couple, whose names were not immediately released, had only 11 miles to go, but their baby wasn't waiting for them to make it to the hospital.

Paramedics were stationed about five minutes away, but it was not fast enough.

"She was able to deliver into her own hands," said Scott Schultz, an engineer with the Orange County Fire Authority. "When we got there the baby was on her belly and there’s not much room in the front of the car."

Their newborn baby arrived, right under the billboard that reads, "Brave."

Firefighters cut the umbilical cord and wrapped the baby girl in a blanket. They told radio dispatchers that she was pink and healthy.

"I just saw mom right away she seemed calm, like this was an everyday occurrence for her," said firefighter Ryan Humphrey.

By Thursday night, the couple and the baby were doing well and expected to be home soon. We'll have to wait to find out if they choose a name appropriate for the little girl's entry into the world.