911 dispatchers deliver babies over the phone

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Most first-time expectant mothers try to imagine what it will be like to deliver a baby. For most, there's a hospital involved. But not always.

Twice recently in Clayton County, there was just the calming voice of a 911 operator.

When she woke up during the middle of the night with a stomach ache, Shawte Rivers thought she'd watch TV a while until she felt better. Her first baby wasn't due until at least another month.

But the pain got worse, and she woke up her aunt and her mother, who she lives with in Riverdale.

"I knew I wasn't going to make it to the hospital," the 29-year-old Rivers said.

Her aunt, Elizabeth Rivers, called 911 to have an ambulance dispatched to take her niece to the hospital. But the baby didn't want to wait.

"We knew the baby was going to be born, but we didn't know it was going to be born at home," Elizabeth Rivers said.

Clayton County dispatcher Melissa Fann took the 4 a.m. call on Feb. 2, and dispatched an ambulance. Then, Elizabeth Rivers called back. She told Fann the baby wasn't waiting for an ambulance.

Fann immediately began giving instructions to Elizabeth Rivers, who then repeated them to Shawte Rivers. With one push, Shawte Rivers says, little Ciara Nichole was born.

"You all did good," Fann said, as emergency responders arrived.

"They were shocked to see the baby was lying on the couch with me," Shawte Rivers said.

Mother and baby spent a few days in the hospital, and both are healthy and fine, Shawte Rivers said.

Fann's supervisors recognized her ability to stay calm and professional during the intense situation in a letter sent to police Major D.S. Jewett.

Shawte Rivers said she hasn't spoken with Fann, but she's grateful for all of her help with bringing the 6 pound, 12 ounce baby into the world.

Just three days after Ciara was born, another dispatcher also helped deliver a baby.

Dispatcher Cindy Marshall took a call around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 from a hysterical woman, whose teenage daughter was in intense pain while the two were in a vehicle.

"When you're dealing with a mom dealing with a child, you have to know how to ask questions and be direct," said Marshall, who has been a dispatcher for nearly six years. Prior to that, Marshall worked as a paramedic, and is certified to help 911 callers with medical emergencies over the phone.

Marshall talked to the mother, providing step-by-step instructions, as the 14-year-old safely delivered a baby girl. Marshall said staying focused and positive were vital to her assisting in the baby's delivery.

When the call got disconnected, Marshall called the number back three times before the woman answered and continued to take instructions. The dispatcher stayed on the phone with the caller until police arrived, followed by paramedics.

Because of the mother's age, she is not being identified.

In Marshall's line of work, every day brings different challenges. But she's glad to have been a part of the birth, a very different scenario than many she's faced.

"It was a positive ending," she said.