Grandmother gives birth alone in car

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 8

Grandmother gives birth alone in car

NZPA Joliet. Illinois A school bus driver gave birth in her family car just minutes after completing the morning bus run, and then drove herself and the baby to a nearby hospital. Eileen Newcomb, aged 41, and the baby, Rebecca Lynn, are doing fine. Mrs Newcomb, who> is also a grandmother, said that Rebecca. weighing 2kg, had arrived on Friday as she was driving home after completing her bus route. “On my way, I felt a slight cramp. I thought about stop-

ping but changed my mind because the pain went away. After all. the baby was not due for at least another week. But . as I drove over the railroad tracks, the baby started coming." Mrs Newcomb pulled into a carpark and leaned on the horn, hoping help would come. When no-one responded, she delivered the baby herself, telling the infant on arrival: “You were supposed to be a boy.” Mrs Newcomb wrapped Rebecca in her jacket and tucked her under her shirt.

She then drove to a hospital emergency room, parked near the entrance, and leaned on the horn. "A woman security guard came out and gave me a funny look because of where I was parked. I rolled down my window and yelled for her to get a doctor because I had just delivered a baby. With that remark, her look changed and she cautioned me, ‘Don’t move, don’t move’." Later that day Mrs Newcomb teased her doctor, saying: “1 sure saved a lot of . money, didn’t I.”