Community Corner

Columbia Father Delivers Surprise Election Day Baby

'It was simultaneously awesome, scary and nerve-racking at the same time,' said the Columbia father who delivered his daughter early Tuesday morning.

 

At 3 a.m. on Election Day, when most big questions in America were still undecided, a Columbia family confronted what may have been the biggest surprise of all—their daughter.

Around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Joseph Duperre was awoken by his wife Brittany, who told him she was going into labor and needed to go to the hospital.

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"I was incredibly surprised, there were no signs she was going into heavy labor," said Joseph.

He grabbed the bag the couple had packed, put it in the car, but when he came back, Brittany told him she didn't think she was going to make it to the hospital.

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So he called 911.

The dispatcher instructed him to tell her how to sit, and soon the baby began to emerge.

"I'm freaking out and also have an adrenaline rush," said Joseph, recalling how he felt as he watched the baby's head emerge, soon followed by her shoulders.

"I didn't have to do a whole lot, and the baby came out," said Joseph.

Soon after Brittany went into labor, Joseph guided his new daughter into the world. He said he handed the baby girl to his wife and tied a shoelace around the umbilical cord.

Then, three minutes after they made the 911 call, Howard County paramedics arrived at the home to assist. They cut the umbilical cord and brought the couple to the hospital.

At 7 pounds, one ounce, baby Adrienne was born in her own home. The next day, both the baby and Brittany were healthy and doing well, said Joseph. At noon on Wednesday they were leaving the hospital and heading back home.

"It was simultaneously awesome, scary and nerve-racking at the same time," said Joseph about delivering his daughter.

Adrienne is the Duperre's second child, they also have an 18-month old son.

"I'm just so glad everyone was healthy," said Joseph. "Obviously it's not an ideal situation having the father help out with the delivery, but I was glad the firemen showed up and knew exactly what to do."

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