Buzz
Childbirth is a deeply personal moment. While some prefer the comfort of their homes, others choose the support and resources a hospital can provide. In certain situations, however, the location of birth is decided by the baby itself, with no option for planning.
For these women, the miracle of life took place in some incredibly unusual, yet unforgettable, locations. Here are ten of the most surprising places where women have experienced childbirth.
10. Walmart
Though it might seem like something out of the 2000 film *Where the Heart Is*, starring Natalie Portman, this story is anything but fictional.
In October 2016, a woman in Utah had no plans to give birth during her trip to Walmart. After completing her shopping, she and her husband were at the checkout when labor pains began. Despite realizing she was in labor, the woman insisted on paying for her items first. Even though the manager tried to convince her it wasn't necessary, she paid, but by then, she was too far along for emergency services to arrive in time.
She gave birth to a healthy baby boy in checkout aisle 11 before being transported to the hospital. Following the delivery, Walmart employees and managers kept in touch with the mother and made plans for a baby shower, providing her with gifts like diapers, formula, and even a celebratory cake.
This wasn’t the first time a Walmart saw a birth. Similar occurrences have happened in states like Georgia, Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Virginia, New York, Indiana, and even Quebec, redefining what it means to be a ‘one-stop shop.’
9. McDonald’s
In December 2016, at a McDonald’s in Sarasota, Florida, breakfast became even more significant when a woman unexpectedly gave birth during the morning rush.
On a typical Saturday morning, April Jones was enjoying breakfast at her local McDonald’s with her mother, who was working her shift. However, their meal was unexpectedly interrupted when a man called for assistance. Sean Jordan and his pregnant wife Cathy, along with their young son, were also at the restaurant for a quick bite. While waiting for her food, Cathy suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom, and while there, she unexpectedly went into labor. Cathy called for help, and her husband alerted the restaurant staff. A person in the adjacent stall offered her jacket after Cathy announced her situation. Thankfully, April, a nurse who works with the elderly, was there to lend a hand.
By the time April reached Cathy in the restroom stall, the baby had already begun to crown. It quickly became apparent that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. April was able to turn the baby and loosen the cord, but the baby was not breathing and appeared blue. When paramedics arrived, they assisted April in cutting the cord, and the baby was given oxygen.
The paramedics transported both Cathy and her newborn son to the ambulance for further care. April was able to check in on them before they were rushed to the hospital. By then, the baby was breathing on his own and had opened his eyes. This incredible experience inspired April to consider going back to school to become a registered nurse, focusing on labor and delivery, deciding that she truly was ‘lovin’ it.’
8. Chick-Fil-A
Labor can progress at different speeds for every mother, and for one woman, a quick stop before heading to the hospital wasn’t a problem. In July 2018, Falon Griffin went into labor and, on her way to the hospital, she and her husband Robert needed to drop off their two daughters with a friend. The chosen meeting place? A Chick-fil-A in San Antonio.
While Robert was taking the girls to meet their friend, Falon suddenly had an urgent need to use the restroom. Even though she was already in labor, she managed to step out of the car and ask the manager if she could use the bathroom. The manager agreed, but it turned out that her restroom visit was a sign of the labor progressing rapidly—the baby wasn’t going to wait until they reached the hospital.
Thankfully, the Chick-fil-A staff came to their aid, bringing towels and supporting Robert as he used his shirt to help deliver their baby girl right there in the bathroom stall. The umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck twice, but Robert was able to untangle it without alarming his wife. The baby, named Gracelyn, was born in the bathroom, and the staff warmed towels to keep her comfortable until the paramedics arrived shortly after.
After the birth, the store owner made a heartwarming promise: Gracelyn would receive free meals at Chick-fil-A for life and a guaranteed job when she was older. The excited manager and staff also discussed with the owner to celebrate Gracelyn’s first birthday in the very place where she was born.
7. Lifeboat
Lifeboats are typically reserved for emergencies, either to save lives or, in this case, to help bring a new life into the world. On the Scottish island of Mull, ferries only run between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, so the emergency lifeboat became the only way to get back to the mainland. On August 3, 2009, around 5:00 AM, Junelle Wilson and her husband boarded the Oban lifeboat, hoping to make it to the mainland in time to meet the paramedics waiting to take them to the hospital.
Junelle realized she was going into labor, and with no other options available, she and her husband called for the emergency lifeboat to take them. What they didn’t expect was for the contractions to intensify and for their baby to decide that the lifeboat, just five minutes from Oban Harbor, was the perfect place to arrive. Fortunately, the Oban lifeboat crew was prepared, and a midwife on board assisted Junelle in delivering her healthy baby boy. About 12 hours after boarding the lifeboat, Junelle and her son, Van Harris, were on the ferry heading home.
For the Oban lifeboat crew, delivering babies is a familiar task. As of 2016, Van Harris became one of the four babies born on the lifeboat and the only boy.
6. Street Corner
Hailing a cab in New York City can be an ordeal, but for one mother, catching a taxi was the least of her concerns. In February 2014, Polly McCourt began to feel ill one afternoon. After sending her eldest to the playground, calling a babysitter for her youngest, and heading home, her symptoms worsened. Polly contacted her doctor, who advised her to go to the hospital immediately.
By the time Polly reached the lobby of her apartment building after calling her husband, her water had broken. Her doorman had already hailed a cab, but as Polly realized she couldn’t make it to the cab—or the hospital—she knew the baby was coming right there on the sidewalk outside her building. With the help of her doorman and a crowd that had gathered, Polly delivered her baby girl on the street in front of her home.
A woman named Isabel Williams generously offered her coat to Polly and her newborn daughter. In honor of the kindness shown to them, Polly and her husband Cian, who arrived just three minutes after their daughter was born, named their baby Ila Isabel.
5. Airplane
What was supposed to be a routine flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, turned into an unexpected event when, in February 2019, a baby was born on a JetBlue flight. The mother had boarded the plane feeling fine, but it quickly became clear that the situation was taking a dramatic turn.
Somewhere between Puerto Rico and Florida, the mother began to go into labor. With the help of the on-board crew, she was able to deliver a healthy baby boy without complications. Both mother and baby were in good health and were met by paramedics upon landing, who checked them both over.
Despite the whirlwind of having a baby born mid-flight, the plane actually arrived 11 minutes ahead of schedule. The newborn holds the title of JetBlue’s youngest-ever passenger. As an interesting twist, the plane that hosted the birth was named 'Born to Be Blue.'
While rare, babies being born on planes is not entirely unheard of. In 2017, a woman gave birth prematurely during a Jet Airways flight from Saudi Arabia to India. In recognition of the remarkable event, the airline awarded the baby free flights for life.
4. Six Flags
Theme parks are a place for family fun, adventure, and occasionally, unexpected surprises. In July 2018, Crusita, a mother from Georgia, was spending the day at Six Flags' Hurricane Harbor with her daughter when she realized she was likely going into labor. She quickly took her daughter to the first aid station to inform them of her situation.
The Six Flags team responded swiftly, calling emergency responders for assistance. Although they arrived promptly, Crusita was already too far along to make it to the hospital. Instead, she gave birth in the theme park without any complications. Her baby boy, Matthew, became the second baby ever born at the park.
In honor of Matthew’s birth, Six Flags granted both him and his mother Diamond Elite Memberships, which would allow them free entry to any Six Flags park for the rest of their lives.
3. Inside A Hospital Elevator
Reaching the hospital on time can be one of the biggest challenges for mothers when their baby decides to arrive ahead of schedule. But for Katie Thacker, the issue was the opposite. In January 2012, after safely arriving at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband, mom, sister, and midwife, Katie was escorted by three nurses to the 14th floor to prepare for childbirth. However, the elevator unexpectedly made an unscheduled stop on the 12th floor. Her family decided to get off to give Katie more space as her contractions intensified, opting to take the stairs to the 14th floor. When they arrived, the elevator was no longer there.
Once the doors closed on the 12th floor, the elevator appeared to have malfunctioned, trapping Katie and the nurses between floors. Despite efforts to call in the fire department and contact the elevator company for assistance, the baby arrived before they could get the elevator working again. Katie gave birth with the help of the nurses and her midwife, while her husband, Luke, received updates through walkie-talkies. After almost two hours, when the elevator doors were finally opened just a crack, Luke climbed down to cut the umbilical cord.
The baby boy was handed up by his father through the doors and over to the nurses. The newborn was confirmed to be healthy and in perfect condition. Katie and Luke decided to name their son Otis, inspired by the company whose elevator played a part in his delivery.
2. A Strip Club Parking Lot
In March 2011, Nate Jones and his wife, Amenze, had carefully planned for the delivery of their baby. However, their plans were unexpectedly disrupted when Nate was pulled over for speeding on their way to the hospital. Although they didn’t receive a ticket, their timeline had been shortened, and Amenze warned Nate that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the hospital in time.
Nate decided to pull into the nearest parking lot to call 911, which happened to be the lot of Flashdancers, a well-known strip club in Arlington, Texas. This was a place Nate knew well, as he had covered it for the local newspaper on several occasions. Their situation took another turn when it was revealed that none of the emergency medical personnel had experience delivering a baby. Fortunately, with this being their third child, both Amenze and Nate knew what to expect. With the paramedics’ assistance, they successfully delivered their baby boy.
As a crowd began to gather, the bouncers made sure to keep onlookers away. The patrons inside the club, who had been there for the show, now found themselves more interested in what was happening outside. Afterward, baby William was taken to the hospital and given a clean bill of health.
1. New York Taxi
As the saying goes, when you know, you know. In July 2017, Chantal McKenna had been feeling contractions since midnight. By 7:30 AM, she knew it was time to head to the hospital. Unfortunately, in New York, even a short trip can take longer than expected, even just trying to get into the elevator in her building.
Chantal, her husband Mark, and their doula gathered their belongings and headed for the elevator, only to find it already packed. Despite Mark’s announcement that Chantal was in labor and needed to get to the hospital, the neighbors made no effort to help, instead riding the elevator down the full 24 floors while Chantal battled contractions.
By the time they reached the ground floor, their Uber had already left. Fortunately, the doorman was able to hail a cab for them, even amidst the rush hour traffic. As they slowly made their way through the city, Chantal’s contractions intensified, and by the time they reached Central Park, it was clear she was about to give birth right there in the back of the cab. Moments later, the baby arrived, catching both the doula and Chantal by surprise as she checked and discovered her baby’s head already emerging.
By the time the cab driver had pulled over, emergency personnel had been called, and a crowd had gathered around, cheering and congratulating the couple. Paramedics checked on the newborn, who was named Josef and found to be perfectly healthy. Afterward, the family was taken to the hospital, but not before they paid the fare and generously tipped their cab driver.
