A baby was born on the platform at L’Enfant Metro station in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.
The mother was taking a Green Line train toward Greenbelt around 11 am when her water broke, Metro spokeswoman Caroline Lukas said.
An off-duty EMT in the same car helped the woman off the train and onto the platform . The baby boy was born minutes later. The newborn and his mother were taken to an area hospital and are doing fine, Lukas said.
Metro officials said they would not release information about the mother of the EMT who helped deliver her baby. However, according to their Twitter account, the mother was born in September 1989.
Other passengers on the train helped the woman deliver. One person took his shirt off and gave it to the EMT, who used it to apply pressure, and another passenger contributed hand sanitizer. Two Metro Transit police and two station managers also aided in the birth.
Saa Alpha, one of the station managers, went down to the mezzanine level of the station and saw the mother leaning over with another customer. She said she was having her baby. Alpha said the whole thing happened in just a few minutes.
“It just popped out,” he said. “It was just awesome.”
Fun fact: “L’Enfant” means “the child” in French. Coincidence? Yes.
A baby was just delivered ON THE PLATFORM at L’Enfant Plaza. MTPD on scene. Additional details will follow. #WMATA
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) August 1, 2013
.@KidPoetic @jmp_nyc No exit fare required; kids under 4 ride free. ?
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) August 1, 2013
Wow – you’re right “ @catherinecooke : @AdamTuss @nbcwashington Pierre L’Enfant’s birthday is tomorrow. Kid missed it by a day.” #wmata
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) August 1, 2013
A similar situation happened in Philadelphia last year when a woman riding the subway gave birth on a train. SEPTA Police Officer Lloyd Rodgers said that he and partner were approached by the new mother at the Olney station. She told them she had just given birth on the train and was carrying her newborn son in her clothing. Rodgers wrapped the newborn in a blanket and called for medics. The unidentified mother was on her way to the doctor when she gave birth.
What do you think of the baby being born on the train platform?
