The woman’s contractions got more intense on the way to the hospital, and that’s when she realized she was about to have “a road baby.”
And that was also when the father, UPS driver Ryan Thompson, made the most incredible delivery of his life… a baby boy named Carson. The child was born on the side of Interstate 440 in Tennessee.
Ryan and his wife, Gayla were on their way to the hospital when Gayla started having contractions while sitting in the front passenger seat of their Jeep Wrangler.
“Halfway to the hospital I couldn’t scream anymore and I knew this was getting real,” the mother told FOX 17 News.
And as the contractions intensified, Gayla suddenly went silent.
“That was the sign that told me baby is on the way, and we won’t make it! Gave Ryan the option to get the hell there and speed up, or call 911. Which he refused to do because he was still convinced it was false labor,” she shared on social media.
In an interview for WSMV, Gayla said:
“I told him, now is the time to go fast and get in the median and I don’t care if a cop, tries to pull us over, let him escort us. And I said we’re called 911 but he didn’t want to because he didn’t want them to waste their time and meet us at the hospital, you know, because it was gonna take probably 10, 15 minutes. So it’s all of a sudden I said, if you’re not going to choose those options you’re gonna have a road baby.”
And in a matter of moments, Ryan understood that he was wrong.
“I looked down and little man was crowning,” he told FOX 17 News.
Ryan pulled over to the side of the road right away and immediately called 911.
He recalled:
“The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck for 2 to 3 minutes. He was blue.”
Eventually, the father was able to get a hold of the baby’s shoulders and pull him out.
“He wasn’t responsive so I cleaned out his mouth and immediately put him skin-to-skin with momma,” he said. “She started rubbing and patting his feet and he finally let out a cry. It’s the sweetest sound you can hear.”
And while cars passed by on the busy highway, the parents witnessed their son’s precious first moments.
Carson was born weighing 7lbs. 3 ounces and 20 1/2 inches in height.
“It was scary but absolutely amazing at the same time,” Ryan recalled.
Eventually, an ambulance arrived and brought the mom and her child to the hospital.
“My wife, she’s a rock star and was able to deal with the contractions and get him out,” Ryan said.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Ryan concluded his WSMV interview by saying:
“I mean, for us, this is, this is about the best way I think as long as you know, Gayla is happy and healthy and Carson is too, I’d do it again in a heartbeat you know I just… instincts took over and it was, it was, it was fantastic.”
For Inside Edition’s report of the story, please click below.
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