Parenting Unusual Baby Stories

Mom Gives New Meaning to ‘Speedy Delivery’ at NH Motor Speedway

baby Katie Shawna Arnold and her boyfriend were on their way to Concord Hospital to deliver their baby girl. But, as we know, sometimes babies just won’t wait. Little Katie was one of those babies.

“He’s like, ‘I can’t drive any faster. I can’t drive any faster,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m not going to make it,’” Shawna said. “I had a contraction, and I stood up in the back seat on my knees facing the back and said, ‘I’m not going to make it. My water just broke.’”

Shawna’s water broke just as they were approaching the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, so her boyfriend pulled into the speedway front parking lot.

“You can’t panic, so you’re thinking, ‘What do I have to do at that moment to save this baby’s life,’” Shawna said.

New Hampshire Speedway Shawna’s boyfriend made the right decision and ran to the speedway’s main office to ask for help. As fate would have it, there were EMTs on site for an event taking place that day. New Hampshire Motor Speedway Director of Operations, Tom Blanchette, who had a background in EMT services was also there that day. He rushed to the front parking lot and helped the couple self-deliver in the back of their Saturn sedan.

“There was an EMT there that happened to be wonderful, and he was a great EMT and he knew what he was doing,” Shawna said. “He made me feel comfortable. He made me feel safe.”

“We had a motorcycle event on track, and typically, we would have a couple of ambulances on property to provide safety for the riders and competitors that come here to enjoy the magic mile,” Blanchette said. “It was timed perfectly for them. They knew where to stop.”

Baby delivered at NH speedway After Katie’s delivery, EMTs transported both mom and baby to the Concord Hospital. Speedway officials said the last time they checked, mom and Katie, who was just over five pounds, were doing well.

Since Katie was the first baby to ever be born at the Speedway, Jerry Gappens, Speedway General Manager, gave Katie a very fitting gift – one that took her love for speed into account: NASCAR tickets for life.

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About the author

Kate

Kate Givans is a wife and a mother of five—four sons (one with autism) and a daughter. She’s an advocate for breastfeeding, women’s rights, against domestic violence, and equality for all. When not writing—be it creating her next romance novel or here on Growing Your Baby—Kate can be found discussing humanitarian issues, animal rights, eco-awareness, food, parenting, and her favorite books and shows on Twitter or Facebook. Laundry is the bane of her existence, but armed with a cup of coffee, she sometimes she gets it done.

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