economist suntribune hivjxh tueday 5 surprise baby fi thornhill baby makes early appearance by jennifer brown staff writer they werent planning on a home birth but a thornhill couple welcomed their first child with the help of york region paramedics last week shocked parents barbara and simon they requested their last names not be used were originally looking at march 9 as their due date but son frederick decided to make an appear ance last thursday five weeks early the excitement began when barbara discovered her water had broken at 720 am and although she wasnt convinced she was in labour decided she should call 911 then barbara discovered her water had broken while she was in the bathroom i tried to stand up and i realized he was coming out recalled barbara ten minutes later york region emergency services para medics russell crocker and amanda walker got a call from barbara who had first tried to call her doctors office getting only an answering machine for walker who has only been on the job since the ambu lance service switched over to regional control jan 1 it would be her first delivery as a paramedic i basically assisted she said crocker and walker arrived to find barbara in full labour with little time to spare i was hearing my friends say how painful it would be and all the pushing but it seems like just one minute to me and no pain mom was walking toward us and was displaying some of the symptoms of birth complaining of lower back pain i asked my partner to examine her and initially there was noth ing and ithought wed have time i encouraged her not to push but shortly after we checked again and the head was out recalled crocker meanwhile dadtobe simon was still asleep unaware his son was about to be bom but he did awake in time to see baby frederick weighing just under five pounds enter the world about 20 minutes later they were planning to get me to hospital but realized i wasnt going to make it said barbara who was surprised to find her experience wasnt at all like the stories she had heard from other women it was so very quick i was hearing my friends say how painful it would be and all the pushing but it seems like just one minute to me and no pain well a little bit both barbara and simon say they are still overwhelmed by the experience i was stunned i was so glad he was crying because i was worried a little and i still dont feel ready yet and a bit scared too said simon the couple say they are grateful for the support of the ems paramedics they did a great job without them i dont know what i would have done i didnt go to prenatal classes so i didnt know what to expect before my water broke i honestly felt like i was just going through my normal morning routine of going to the bathroom for walker it was great onthejob training although she credits crocker with taking charge of the situation crocker who has delivered just two other babies in his career as a paramedic said he had received pediatric training last year which came in handy during the delivery and after a hectic week it was a rewarding experience for all involved it had been a rough day the day before so it was a nice way to start thursday he said arajnedig barbara and simon of thornhill had their son frederick with the help of ems team amanda walker and russell crocken staff photo mike barrett join us thurs feb 10th served from 800 am extra discounts anadditionall0off our already drastically reduced merchandise 15 off all new spring arrivals longer hours 800 am 700 pm onedayonly to max of 70 see you in the store 159 main st unionville 4774077 7 days a week afias treasures historic uwonv1ux hhw i m i j mm carriers to deliver the economist sun or the tribune in the following areas windridge drive hawkridge drive reesorville road captain rolph court paradise avenue fredericton road billy oel crescent smithy street tailor street main st markham joseph street franklin street duborg drive tea rose street ritter crescent joycedale street uliwwiui jjsj timbermtll crescent george street drakefield road banfield avenue arrowf light drive alanadale drive friar tuck road rougecrest drive bramble way hepworth way jonquil crescent galsworthy drive baycliffe road stanford road milford lane longwater chase im inn 1 1 f honeybourne cres pringle avenue normandale road ferndell circle pinebrook hollow springwood cres berkeley court eton street dundee crescent turnberry crescent eckhardt avenue maple lane fred varley drive vanessa road markhaven road webber crescent m i n ttiwriiitiimubi ambleside crescent kerrigan crescent loweswater avenue nadine crescent calderbridge crescent lancashire road queensgate court john button blvd stouffville donne lee trail ivy crescent hazelnut place park drive north main street eastern gate sullivan lane 1 ikjll i reward make extra money delivering the paper ani flyers to homes in your areallp call today ecomisrsun t stouffville tribune 905 2948244 i llflit mi i y