This news item about a birth caught my attention because the birth of my first daughter happened in a similarly quick and unexpected way, however, the lesson that I took away from the experience was exactly the opposite of this new dad's.

I wonder how many mothers wouldn't trade their own most recent labor and delivery experience for one like this.

February 16, 2007
www.sptimes.com/2007/02/16...assig.shtml

" ST. PETERSBURG — Infielder Ty Wigginton came through with a lot of big hits for the Devil Rays last season. But that was nothing like the way he delivered during the offseason.

...The unforgettable episode started around 3:45 the morning of Dec. 20, when Angela woke with contractions about seven minutes apart. “I asked her, 'Do we need to go?’ and she says, 'We’re all right,’ ’’ Wigginton said.

A couple of hours of more intense contractions later, Angela — who went through a 14-hour labor with Chase — changed her mind. She began getting ready for a trip to the hospital, though expecting the doctors would simply send them home. Ty was already up with Chase, giving him medicine for a flu that had him vomiting and preparing to drop him off at Angela’s parents’ house.

“About 6 o’clock she’s in the closet trying to get dressed, and I’m getting our son ready to go out the door and she yells, 'We’re having this baby now,’ ’’ Wigginton said.

“I think she’s kidding. Then I come around the corner and, sure enough. … I called 911 and told them to get somebody over there. And like a minute later, I’m holding the baby in my arms.”

It took about 10 more minutes for the paramedics to get there, though Wigginton said it seemed like an hour. Not that he had time to get too worried.

“The baby came out and he looked great,” Ty said. “The scary part was that he never really cried until the EMTs got there, but he was breathing. His tongue was moving in and out of his mouth. I could feel his heart beating. They just told me to keep wiping his nose and mouth and keep him wrapped in a towel.”

[THE SCARY PART WAS THAT THE BABY WASN'T TRAUMATIZED? --WHAT A SAD REFLECTION OF THE MEDICAL MYTHOLOGY OF CHILDBIRTH]

The baby weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces . . .

[SO, WHAT DOES THE BASEBALL PLAYER LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE?]

“Next time, if she even sneezes or coughs, we’re going to the hospital,” Wigginton said. “I don’t care if she is only two weeks pregnant.” "

...SO EVERYONE CAN BE TRAUMATIZED :-)