In recent months, Chelsea firefighters have become quite accustomed to assisting with newborn deliveries alongside their traditional firefighting duties.
On the evening of Saturday, March 8, Engine 2 responded to a Congress Avenue residence where firefighters successfully helped deliver a baby girl. The crews arrived promptly and the infant was born within minutes of their arrival at the scene.
This delivery marks another addition to the fire department’s recent experiences with childbirth. Firefighters rescued a pregnant woman in January who was eight months along and had collapsed at her home. Additionally, in December 2012, fire crews delivered a baby on Highland Avenue.
The call came in at 10:35 p.m. last Saturday to Engine 2 regarding a woman in active labor at a Congress Avenue address. Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered a 35-year-old female in the midst of labor.
Fire Lt. Chris Lehmann recounted the events: “We began to assess the patient and noticed the baby was crowning, we knew birth was imminent,” and added, “I placed my hand on the baby’s head and instructed mom to focus on her breathing.”
Paramedics from Cataldo Ambulance soon arrived on scene and within minutes the baby girl was delivered. The firefighting crew quickly worked to unwrap the umbilical cord from around the infant’s neck and cleared her nose and mouth through suctioning.
According to Lehmann, “The baby began breathing on her own and started to cry,” noting that “everything happened so quickly.”
Both mother and newborn were examined and determined to be in good health before being transported to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston.