Hamilton police officer helps deliver baby on ‘unexpected’ medical assist call

Any time Hamilton police Const. Michael McLellan gets dispatched to an ambulance assist call, he never quite knows what to expect.

But earlier this month, it happened to be the birth of one of Steeltown's youngest bundles of joy.

Speaking to The Spectator Thursday, McLellan said he was filling out paperwork in his cruiser the morning of April 5 when a call for a woman in labour in Westdale came across the system.

A former military paramedic, McLellan flicked on his sirens and rushed over.

At the house, McLellan ran up to the unlocked front door and made his way to an upstairs bedroom where he found both the mom and dad - but no baby, yet.

I've been to six births, but the babies are always born just before I get there," he said. So, this was my first catch, if you will."

When McLellan arrived, the mom's contractions were just a few minutes apart. He quickly directed the dad to get some towels and other necessities before the baby arrived.

Minutes later, after the mom's third contraction, the baby boy was born - just as paramedics were coming up the stairs.

It was good timing in that sense," said McLellan. The baby came out healthy and gave a perfect little cry."

He went on to help the dad cut the cord as well as clean up and swaddle the baby before handing him over to the now mother of two. Amazingly, the couple's four-year-old was asleep in the other room throughout the whole ordeal.

McLellan said the birth of the baby was quite fast" and completely unexpected."

The family had called St. Joe's prior to calling 911, but they never made it as the mom's active labour lasted less than an hour. The baby was also a few weeks early, he noted.

However, McLellan said the mom had a great sense of humour" through it all, while the dad was beside himself in the best way possible."

They absolutely rocked it," he said, noting that both mom and baby were transported to hospital afterward. I've never seen anything go that smoothly in my life, she was a rock star."

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com