East Greenwich firefighters deliver baby after mom goes into labor on highway

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) – Firefighters in East Greenwich responded to an early morning call Tuesday, not knowing they’d be delivering a baby.

The crew of four first responders got the call just before 2 a.m. of a woman in labor in the breakdown lane of 95 North by Exit 8.

“Mom’s water had definitely broke in the front seat of the car, and she was in active labor. It was just a matter of getting her on the stretcher, getting her in the truck into a safer environment and getting her to the hospital,” said Lieutenant Edward Matola.

They got the woman in the ambulance and were headed to Kent Hospital, but her baby decided he didn’t want to wait.

“The baby was coming and they weren’t waiting for anybody. Before we got to the hospital, she delivered a happy baby boy in the back of the ambulance.”

The baby was delivered on side streets just three minutes from the hospital.

The baby boy is the department’s first delivery, but they didn’t panic, and just got to work.

“You try to stay calm, you know in the back of your head that things are gonna get real, but you know, you try to stay in the moment, you just do your job,” said firefighter Matthew Howard.

The whole ordeal took just ten minutes. The family was brought safely to Kent Hospital, and mom and baby are doing just fine.

The experience is one these first responders are sure to never forget.

“I’ve been a paramedic for 25 years and this is the first time I’ve delivered in the back of an ambulance. It was a wonderful experience, it was awesome,” added Lieutenant Matola.

© WLNE-TV 2019