OC Dispatcher Talks Laguna Niguel Man Through Delivery Of His Newborn Daughter
LAGUNA NIGUEL (CBSLA.com) — A Laguna Niguel man helped deliver his own child in their home Wednesday morning with the help of a 911 dispatcher.
The expectant couple, Keith and Katherine Arthur, were getting into their car to drive to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center when the 29-year-old woman's water broke, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
"So she turned to him and said, 'We're not going anywhere,'" Concialdi said. "So he walked her back inside the house and dialed 911, and one of our 911 dispatchers, who has eight children himself, calmly gave delivery instructions to the father, who delivered the baby in the bathroom after he grabbed some blankets and a pillow for his wife."
911 Dispatcher Helps Father Deliver His 4th Child At Home
"Oh, the baby's all the way out! I have the baby. I have the baby," the father could be heard saying on the 911 recording. "It's a girl. OK. OK. Oh my gosh."
The couple's new daughter, Collette, was born in their home in the 27400 block of Hyatt Court about 9:40 a.m., Concialdi said. Paramedics arrived about two minutes later.
"When the paramedics arrived, the baby was in the arms of her father in a blanket and the cord was still connected to the baby and to mom," Concialdi said. "The baby was very content when they arrived and the father was very thankful to the dispatcher who helped."
Mom and baby eventually made it to Saddleback for additional care, he said.
Father Delivers Daughter At Home With Help From 911 Dispatcher
Keith Arthur recalled from the hospital room how he was determined to keep calm.
"Really there was no thinking. The dispatcher on the other end was kind of walking me through it and she was coming out and I was following instructions. There was really no thought other than follow what I'm being told," Arthur said.
The couple also have an 8-year-old son, 5-year-old daughter and 18-month-old daughter.
Katherine Arthur said it was incredible to welcome their fourth child at home.
"It's neat to have your best friend - the person I trust and I love - and he's the one who delivered me. I can't imagine anything better than that," she said.
The dispatcher who helped, Brodie Lefebvre, is the nephew of Jim Lefebvre, the 1965 National League rookie of the year infielder with the Dodgers, who also knew something about coming through in the clutch.
"Great job, is this your first delivery?" Lefebvre was heard asking the father, who laughed shakily.
Lefebvre later said he was impressed by how well the couple handled the situation that can easily leave moms and dads shaken.
"He was extremely calm and was there," he said. "He did exactly what I told him to do."
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