After fiancée gives birth on the road, this dad saves his baby's life

HOWELL, Mich. — A Michigan couple on the way to the hospital for the birth of their child were forced into an unusual situation when the baby, who was born in the vehicle, wasn't breathing.

Jeff Hudson and Natalie Raymond's baby wasn't due until May 6, but the baby was on his own schedule during the early morning hours of April 20.

The Fowlerville, Mich., couple, who met through a mutual friend, created a life together. Levi, who turns 5 on Wednesday, was born in 2012. 

The couple got engaged in 2014 and wanted to expand their family but struggled with infertility.

More: Early arrival: Parents deliver baby in passenger seat

“We didn’t think we’d have (another child),” said Raymond. 

After three years of trying, the couple was ecstatic to learn she was pregnant.

A baby is born

On April 19, Raymond was in pain that intensified, but her water did not break.

She called the doctor around midnight who advised her it was probably false labor and to take a warm shower. That did not ease Raymond's pain. An hour later, the contractions were four to five minutes apart.

“There was no way it was false labor,” Raymond said.

As they were driving to the hospital, Raymond told Hudson they were not going to make it. 

"I kept telling her to hold on," Hudson said.

“He kept telling me not to push," she said. "I was screaming, ‘I have to push.’ Once you feel the urge to push, you have to push.”

Raymond told Hudson to call 911 to have an ambulance meet them at her mother's house since they weren't going to make it to the hospital. They turned up the radio so Raymond's screams would not alarm Levi, who was in the backseat.

Hudson, who was driving 70 mph on Michigan Highway 59, reached over and felt the baby crowning. He dialed 911 and about three minutes into the conversation, Raymond screamed.

“He’s out!”

Their son lay inside her yoga pants.

Saving a life

Hudson, who threw his phone, stopped the car as quickly and cautiously as possible and ran to Raymond's side of the Jeep. He helped her shimmy out of her pants, held his newborn son and placed him on Raymond's chest.

The newborn, named Cole, was “completely blue and unresponsive.”

“I smacked him on the back like (the doctors) did to Levi,” Hudson said. “He didn’t cry. I flipped him over and his arms went back. His chest wasn’t moving, and he was turning bluish.”

Hudson found his phone and fortunately, the 911 dispatcher, Andrea Smith, was still on the line.

Smith talked Hudson, who has no CPR training, through the steps to save his son’s life.

Hudson placed his mouth over his newborn's mouth and nose, and blew while Levi, 4, watched from the backseat.

"It's OK. Just give him another kiss, Daddy," said Levi.

Levi had no idea his father was trying to save the life of his new little brother.

Raymond watched Hudson work on their newborn son, who was quiet and turning bluer.

“God, you can’t take him now,” she prayed. “I held him for 2 minutes; you can’t take him. This isn’t his story.”

Recalling the incident later, Hudson said, “It was crazy, doing (CPR) on such a fragile thing. I put my mouth over his mouth and nose so his chest would expand. The first couple of breaths he gagged. …

“He seemed unresponsive so (the dispatcher) instructed me on how to do chest compressions,” he added.

Hudson placed two fingers on his son’s chest and started compressions when he noticed the emergency lights. 

Hudson had wrapped his newborn in his shirt. He stepped out to wave the officer down, but the car “whizzed right past us and had to turn around,” he said.

Cole’s breathing was shallow, and the officer massaged the newborn’s chest and felt his pulse, Hudson said. Minutes later, paramedics arrived, and they pinched off the umbilical cord.

“I was standing by the cop freaking out,”  Hudson said. “I didn’t know if what I did was good enough.”

Finally, home

Levi is enjoying his baby brother, who was 5 pounds, 10 ounces and about 18¾ inches long at birth.

Raymond and Hudson are both grateful for the emergency responders and the dispatcher who helped when they needed it.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Raymond said.

More: Baby delivered on front lawn

Smith was not immediately available for an interview, but 911 supervisor Joni Harvey said the call was rare for 911 and that Smith did a “fantastic job” providing pre-arrival instructions and updating emergency responders.

“Jeff and Natalie were amazingly calm and focused on helping their child,” Harvey said. “Jeff did exactly what he was asked without hesitation or question. … We couldn't be happier for the new parents and wish them many congratulations.”

Follow Lisa Roose-Church on Twitter: @LisaRooseChurch