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Baby's Birth a Real Photo Finish
at Golden Gate Fields
Berkeley, Ca - Nov 19, 2011 - On Thursday, between
the 2nd and 3rd races at Golden Gate Fields race track, an assistant
veterinarian went into labor in the bathroom of a horse barn. Forget
about ambulances or mad dashes to the hospital – by the time she
knew what was happening, the baby was already heading toward the
finish line.
“We put blankets on the floor and hiked her down to the floor,” said
co-worker Kelly Jackson who assisted in the birth. “She did all the
rest.”
Erin Anderson was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she went
into labor, just a bathroom stall away from the horse stalls. As
Jackson summoned the track’s paramedic team, horse trainer Val
Rhoden fetched some blankets.
“You see it on the news – ‘husband and wife stuck in
traffic and the husband’s delivering,’” said Rhoden, who operates
the barn where the blessed event occurred. “You think that’ll never
happen to me.”
As the de facto medical team tended to the new mom, the baby’s head
began to appear. Just then, a paramedic walked in.
“One of them ran in and put his hands out,” said Jackson. “Just as
he put his hands out that baby was born.”
As paramedics placed mother and baby on a gurney, a line of race
horses paraded past on their way to the next race. The appearance of
Anderson inspired a loud round of applause from the now-gathered
crowd.
Anderson and her yet-unnamed baby were resting comfortably Friday in
Berkeley’s Alta Bates Hospital. Although Anderson said would’ve
preferred to give birth in somewhat more luxurious surroundings, she
was thankful to have friends nearby.
read more:
NBC Bay Area
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