How to Respond to an Emergency Childbirth In Public

Emergencies can happen any moment, including unexpected childbirth. You may find yourself in a scenario of helping a pregnant woman who is about to, or currently in labour. What do you do if you witness emergency childbirth in public?

Childbirth is a natural progression, and the body knows what to do; your primary role will be to bring comfort and reassurance to the woman, and to facilitate the process while you wait for Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) and healthcare personnel to arrive.

Labour and delivery of the baby will happen without extraneous involvement on your part, so your main role is to make sure the woman is as comfortable as possible, and can help her with such needs as getting water, a blanket, a cushion, etc. Emergency childbirth in public may sound intimidating or nerve-wracking, but after completing a training course with Coast2Coast, you will feel confident in your abilities to help the mother.

What to Look For

Signs and symptoms that signal forthcoming childbirth include the following:

• Contractions are two minutes apart or less
• The woman says  ‘the baby is coming’
• The woman feels the urge to push
• The woman feels like she needs to have a bowel movement (this is a normal sensation for most women giving birth)
• The baby is crowning (the head is peaking)

What Can You Do

Have someone call 911 if childbirth is inevitable.

To care properly for the woman and assure a healthy and clean birth during emergency childbirth in public, you can:

• Ask if the woman would like help, and if she consents to you or anyone else helping her, including holding her or any form of physical contact in the process, do what you can to assist.
• Clear the area of unnecessary bystanders (ask if anyone specializes in healthcare or emergency services, and if anyone has First Aid training).
• Help the woman into a position of comfort (different for all women).
• Create a hygienic birthing area by placing clean blankets and/or towels under the woman. She may be embarrassed or shy, so place a clean sheet or towel over the woman’s abdomen for privacy purposes.
• As the baby is about to be born:
• Support the head as it is delivered. Do not push or pull the baby.
  • Once the shoulders emerge, the rest of the baby will be delivered very quickly. Be prepared to quickly hold the baby.
  • Newborns are slippery, so hold the baby firmly, but do not squeeze them, as every part of their body is fragile and limber.
• Position the baby face down and remove any fluids or mucus away from their eyes, mouth and nose.
• Check the baby’s airway and breathing. Newborns may not breathe and cry immediately after they are born, as fluids are still in their esophagus and lungs. In most situations, actively drying them with a towel will prompt them to breathe and begin crying, which will open up the esophagus to begin breathing. If the baby does not begin to breathe or cry, begin CPR immediately.
• Keep the baby warm by placing them directly onto the mother’s chest and covering with a blanket or towel, or by wrapping the baby in a clean towel or blanket.
• Let the placenta and umbilical cord drop onto a clean towel, and keep this near the baby. Do not cut the cord. Try to touch the placenta and cord as little as possible.
• Record the time of birth for the mother and medical personnel.
• If the mother is bleeding, you may need to apply gentle pressure to any bleeding tears. Let her know and ask for consent before applying pressure.
• Provide continual care for both the mother and the baby until EMS personnel arrive.