While the concept of giving birth mid-air was once quite unusual, it seems like a new baby every week is being gifted with free flights for life!
As more and more stories of mid-flight births begin to roll in to our newsfeeds, it’s rare enough to catch footage of the incredible moment – which is why people are flooding to Shelley Hedgecock Starks’ Facebook page this week.
Shelley was on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas last weekend, when a mum-of-two went into labour on the plane. As traumatic as that moment may have been, the mum – who was sitting in front of Shelley – excitedly asked her to capture the entire thing!
An amazed Shelley obliged, taking out her phone and filming the baby boy’s astonishing journey into the world.
According to reports, the mother – who was travelling with her partner and two other children – began to feel unwell when she boarded the plane. It didn’t take long for her to realise what was happening: she was in labour.
Thankfully, registered nurse Rhondula Green was on the plane and helped to safely deliver baby Christoph.
Sharing the incredible footage of Christoph’s first moments to Facebook, Shelley explained: “We just experienced the birth of a baby in the seat in front of us on our flight, and had to do an emergency landing in New Orleans.
“We visited with the doctor that delivered the baby while waiting to get on our flight.”
In the footage, Shelley can be heard explaining the dramatic events, describing the entire experience as ‘so special’.
Baby Christoph is seen wrapped up in a towel and sitting in his mother’s lap. Mummy, meanwhile, looks remarkably relaxed and happy, as she beams for the camera. What a trooper!
Apparently, the mother is still recovering in hospital after her ordeal on Saturday night, but the entire family is said to be doing fine.
The footage has garnered over 35,000 views so far, and one woman in particular has come in for serious praise: Nurse Rhondula Green.
“Wow, you rock, Ms Green! Very proud of you and the awesome job you did aboard the flight,” wrote one woman.
Another joked: “Wait! So what will his birth certificate say for place of birth? Airplane? 15,000 feet in the air? Or will it go by the location they were flying over?” Good question!
What an incredible story to tell Christoph when he’s older!
