Mum gives birth at 30,000ft on board 11-hour transatlantic flight
- 2 years ago
A woman has given birth to baby during a transatlantic flight forcing an off duty doctor to deliver the baby - and cut the ambilocal cord with DENTAL FLOSS.
The new mother, who gave her name as GG, gave birth prematurely to a baby boy on board United Flight UA 977 from Ghana to Dallas on January 29.
Dr. Stephen Ansah-Addo, a dermatology resident at the University of Michigan, heard the overhead call for a health care professional and jumped into action.
He was joined by a nurse from Dayton, Ohio, and another United flight attendant, who is also a nurse.
They turned the area behind business class into a makeshift operation room - putting down blankets and towels.
The mother's contractions were getting stronger and more frequent, and after just an hour, Ansah-Addo felt the baby's head.
Video footage shows mum GG with her baby boy after giving birth to him mid flight.
Paramedics were ready to meet the plane when it touched down at Dulles International Airport in D.C.after an almost 12-hour flight.
Fellow passenger Tiani Warren, 47, who witnessed the drama unfold from across the isle, describes the birth as a "total miracle."
Tianim from Los Angeles, California, said: "I was just having a nap when I started hearing these loud groans from further down the plane.
"I was really concerned and when I went over to investigate I saw a woman was in labour.
"It caused a bit of panic, and the pilot was considering making an emergency landing in Bermuda so GG could make it to a hospital.
"But, as it turned out, there was no time for that, and she had her baby right there and then.
"Thankfully an off duty dermatologist and a nurse were on board to deliver the baby.
"I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't of been for their professionalism.
"It was certainly an eventful flight, and I'm just so relived the birth was relatively smooth.
"What shocked me was when they didn't have anything to cut the ambilocal cord with because scissors aren't allowed on board - so they used dental floss!
"The whole thing was just so crazy, but it all turned out okay in the end.
"I wish GG and her baby boy all the best for the future."
The new mother, who gave her name as GG, gave birth prematurely to a baby boy on board United Flight UA 977 from Ghana to Dallas on January 29.
Dr. Stephen Ansah-Addo, a dermatology resident at the University of Michigan, heard the overhead call for a health care professional and jumped into action.
He was joined by a nurse from Dayton, Ohio, and another United flight attendant, who is also a nurse.
They turned the area behind business class into a makeshift operation room - putting down blankets and towels.
The mother's contractions were getting stronger and more frequent, and after just an hour, Ansah-Addo felt the baby's head.
Video footage shows mum GG with her baby boy after giving birth to him mid flight.
Paramedics were ready to meet the plane when it touched down at Dulles International Airport in D.C.after an almost 12-hour flight.
Fellow passenger Tiani Warren, 47, who witnessed the drama unfold from across the isle, describes the birth as a "total miracle."
Tianim from Los Angeles, California, said: "I was just having a nap when I started hearing these loud groans from further down the plane.
"I was really concerned and when I went over to investigate I saw a woman was in labour.
"It caused a bit of panic, and the pilot was considering making an emergency landing in Bermuda so GG could make it to a hospital.
"But, as it turned out, there was no time for that, and she had her baby right there and then.
"Thankfully an off duty dermatologist and a nurse were on board to deliver the baby.
"I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't of been for their professionalism.
"It was certainly an eventful flight, and I'm just so relived the birth was relatively smooth.
"What shocked me was when they didn't have anything to cut the ambilocal cord with because scissors aren't allowed on board - so they used dental floss!
"The whole thing was just so crazy, but it all turned out okay in the end.
"I wish GG and her baby boy all the best for the future."