Moms are often praised for their ability to handle anything, and Heather Skaats from Kentucky is no exception. On May 15, while her other five children waited in the car, Heather gave birth to her seventh child on the side of the road.
According to an interview with TODAY Parents, Heather had been experiencing minor contractions before leaving for an errand, assuming she had enough time to complete it before going into labor. However, her contractions soon intensified, and Heather quickly realized she was in labor.
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In an attempt to have her planned at-home water birth, as she had done with her prior children, Heather sped up her car. However, it became clear that she wouldn’t make it in time. Heather pulled over, told her kids everything was okay, grabbed her phone, and stepped out of the vehicle.
Heather’s water broke while she was squatting on the ground next to some grass. She reached down and caught her seven-pound infant as his head and body emerged quickly, without needing to push. She was talking to her husband, Nick, on the phone when she heard, “He’s here!”
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Heather carefully re-entered the vehicle with her newborn while her other children anxiously awaited to meet their new brother. Once they arrived home, Heather and her oldest child, Kaelynn, assisted in delivering the placenta in the shower. Her midwives helped her remove the grass from her baby’s skin.
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Despite the unexpected roadside birth, Heather remained calm and attributed her composure to her previous childbirth experiences. “I believe having previous home deliveries sort of educated me to trust my body. Knowing the procedure was quite helpful,” Heather said.
Heather and her husband are still considering names for their newest addition. They are contemplating names based on the streets close to where he was born, such as Porter or Wolf.
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Heather took to Facebook to share her incredible story, saying, “I’m still in disbelief that I gave birth to my own child on the side of the highway. But he’s great, the kids love having dad around, and this was a day I’ll never forget.”
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Heather’s spouse may have missed the significant event, but at least he was present when she called to announce that she would give birth on the side of the road. Congratulations to the Skaats family on their newest addition, and kudos to Heather for her incredible strength and experience during childbirth.
