Hamilton paramedic made it to St. Joe’s ‘in nick of time’ — first baby of new year almost born in the car

Twenty minutes after they rang in the new year, the contractions began to accelerate. First they were 40 minutes apart - then five, then three, then two, all within minutes.

The Lynch family arrived at the hospital shortly after 2 a.m., and baby girl Scarlett, who wasn't due for more than a week, entered the world at 3:09 a.m. Jan. 1.

Almost in my truck," said mother Skye Lynch, who is a Hamilton paramedic. I was just basically like about to have the baby in the car, and my only goal was not to call my coworkers."

Skye and her husband, Cody, asked family to ditch their New Year's celebrations to watch their two-year-old son, Noah, while they raced from their east Hamilton home to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton downtown. Skye said their black SUV, similar to an unmarked cop car, may have helped them navigate traffic quickly.

I was telling my husband ... You need to go through red lights if you need to, because this baby's coming right now,'" she said. We made it to St. Joe's in just the nick of time to be admitted."

There was no time for an epidural. As soon as Skye was in a gown, she was told to push.

And we were the first New Year's baby at St. Joe's, so that was so nice," she said.

Skye told The Spectator Sunday afternoon the family - now a foursome - is doing well and hanging out" together at the hospital.

She's really good," Skye of her newborn daughter. She's been sleeping like a champ."

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com