Stork delivers in SCAD ambulance

When the call came from the Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) Dispatch Center, Paramedic Jerry Caldwell went into action. He and EMT Dustin Pfeiffer responded to a report of a woman in labor just south of Bernie. Little did he know that approximately 18 minutes after arrival he would be assisting Renee Burrage in the birth of her son while in the back of the ambulance.

Burrage and her new son were both taken to SoutheastHEALTH in Dexter for observation and care, and then taken on to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Missouri Delta had been their original destination.

Wednesday morning was a happy occasion at the ambulance district office. Caldwell earned a stork pin for assisting with the delivery, and everyone was in good spirits. Caldwell is only one of three people at SCAD who have stork pins on their shirts. Paramedics Steve Cummings and Amy Earls are the other crew members who have helped deliver a baby. The stork pin comes in two colors, blue for a boy and pink for a girl.

"We don't often get to help bring a life into this world," said SCAD Manager Dave Cooper. "Usually we see the other side."

"It was an exciting time for us all," added Cooper.

Caldwell was tired, but beaming the next day as he prepared to get some rest.

The call came into the dispatch center at 11:57 p.m. Tuesday from the father, Joseph Davis. The call was taken by dispatcher Sharon Howard, and three minutes later the ambulance with Caldwell and Pfeiffer rolled from the Bernie Station. Howard was talking to Davis, giving him pre-arrival instructions.

Burrage was at home and sleeping restlessly when she woke up "feeling funny." There had been some issues associated wth the pregnancy. She went to the bathroom, and realized she was about "to have the baby." She awoke Davis and had him call 911.

Caldwell said when he arrived at the house, he knew Burrage was close to giving birth. He cited several medical symptoms that told him the baby was on his way. He told Pfeiffer to bring the stretcher and the OB kit from the ambulance, with the thought that the delivery would be right there at the house. After a few minutes, he made the decision to transport the woman to Missouri Delta, where Burrage's doctor was located.

Caldwell recalls that they were only in the ambulance a few minutes when Burrage began to "crown," and it was apparent she was going to give birth. He told Pfeiffer to pull the ambulance over.

"We didn't even have time to pull off," said Caldwell. "By the time I looked back, the baby was coming out. She pushed and the baby came out."

Burrage said of her experience with a prevous childbirth, "I can't believe how fast this one was born. "

Every SCAD ambulance is equipped with pediatric equipment. Part of paramedic training involves child birth, and Caldwell put that training to good use.

"I didn't have time to think about it," said Caldwell.

The baby boy, later named Hunter Cage Davis by the couple, appeared to be healthy, as did Burrage. The Apgar score was a nine out of 10.

The Apgar score is a simple assessment of how a baby is doing at birth, which helps determine whether the newborn is ready to meet the world without additional medical assistance. This score - developed in 1952 by anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar and now used in modern hospitals worldwide - rates a baby's appearance, pulse, responsiveness, muscle activity, and breathing with a number from 0 to 2 (2 being the strongest rating). The five numbers are then totaled.

Caldwell said the only rating less than a two for the newborn was for color. He noted the toes were bluish, but by the next APGAR rating five minutes later, the baby was pink and vocal.

'He started crying instantly," said Caldwell. "He sure had some good lungs."

By this time, Pfeiffer had stopped the ambulance and was assisting Caldwell. They cleaned the baby and wrapped him in blankets for Burrage.

Davis and Burrage's nine-year-old son, Dakota Ryan Cox, were following the ambulance to the hospital.

"I heard a knock on the back of the ambulance, and I told them to come in," said Caldwell. Davis and his son were greeted by the mother and the new son.

"They were both ecstatic," Caldwell said about Davis and Dakota.

The emergency team decided to take Burrage and Hunter to the closest hospital for observation.

"We wanted to get the baby somewhere as soon as possible to get checked out," said Caldwell.

Burrage was at Missouri Delta on Thursday where the baby was being kept for observation. Hunter weighed 5 lbs., 4 oz. and was 17" in length. They were both doing fine and were to have been discharged Friday.

Meanwhile, Caldwell was the envy of many employees at the SCAD office.

"It was the first time in my 21 years with the ambulance district that I have delivered a baby," smiled Caldwell.

Cooper said in all his years of working at SCAD, he had never helped deliver a baby in an ambulance.

Mike McCoy photo - Paramedic Jerry Caldwell shows the blue stork pin he earned for delivering a baby early Wednesday morning, July 17.

For Caldwell, it was something he will always remember. He'll wear the blue stork pin with pride.