Okotoks resident Melissa Gordon took to social media on Wednesday to share the remarkable story of the birth of her daughter.

On the morning of May 27th, two days after the expected due date, Gordon went into labour.

After going to Rockyview Hospital, she was told that as she was only 2 centimetres dilated with two minutes between contractions, she should head back home for the time being.

About an hour and a half later, she knew it was time, and raced back up to Calgary with her boyfriend.

Gordon says after that, everything seemed to happen all at once.

"I thought we had enough time to get there, ten minutes out of Okotoks. Nope! I did two pushes and she was out. My boyfriend was driving, he looked over at me once and he asked if I was okay, if she was coming, and then the next minute I had the baby in my hands."

The couple stopped on the overpass connecting Highway 2A and Highway 2, and attempted to hail an ambulance they had passed earlier.

Luckily, several strangers pulled over to offer their help. One couple flagged down an ambulance, while another man blocked traffic in one lane to give EMS workers more room.

She says the responders did an excellent job.

"The EMS workers were amazing, they were able to supply me with blankets and they tied off the chord to make sure she was still doing good. They did bring my boyfriend into the back of the ambulance for him to cut the cord. They made it a special memorable moment for him too."

After being taken the rest of the way, Gordon's newborn daughter was determined to be healthy with a steady heartbeat, and she was able to take her home the next day.

Gordon says looking back, it was a pretty incredible experience.

"I kind of couldn't think of a better birth, as weird as that sounds! I didn't have to be hooked up to monitors, I didn't have to have drugs going through my system, it was all kind of natural. My body knew what to do and my instincts kind of kicked in. For my first time birthing experience, I couldn't ask for more."

If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, Gordon had originally planned for the delivery to happen at High River hospital, whose maternity services are expected to be restored on June 3rd.

Gordon says the story is met with amazement from most who hear it, as most first time mothers are in labour for over 20 hours before giving birth, whereas Gordon's labour lasted only six.

She made a Facebook post later that day thanking those who had helped her.

"I didn't get any of their names, but if I did have their names, I'd take them out for dinner."

 

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email news@okotoksonline.com