"I decided I was just going to push and deliver him myself."
Vanessa Kumamoto, a Steveston resident and first-time mother, made a split-second decision to give birth in her car last month when she knew she wouldn't make it to the hospital on time.
Kumamoto and her husband were on their way to BC Women's Hospital on March 8 after she felt contractions and pain.
"On the way there, I just couldn't hold it and I saw his head crowning and so at that point, I had to make that split-second decision," said Kumamoto, adding they pulled into Richmond Fire Hall No. 4 on Russ Baker Way as they were just passing it.
"My husband pulled into the driveway of the fire hall and I pushed and (the baby) came out in one push. I caught him myself and delivered him."
Kumamoto described the moment when baby Kobi was born as something "out of a movie" that happened fast.
She was surrounded by all men -- her husband, his dad, brother and his friend -- who all played a part in making sure she was comfortable and had everything needed for the delivery.
Her husband was on the phone with emergency services, who gave them instructions including wrapping a towel around the umbilical cord "for blood flow."
"He went to get the firefighters but he didn’t know which door to go to because we didn't know there was a specific door," said Kumamoto.
As it turns out, her husband was banging on the wrong door, she explained.
"By the time the firefighters came out with their gloves on, the ambulance came."
Kumamoto told the Richmond News she was then transferred from their truck to the ambulance to conduct vitals before being sent to BC Women's Hospital for the rest of her delivery care.
Despite Baby Kobi being born 10 days early, he was healthy, albeit a little light, at five pounds, 14 ounces, and 50 centimetres in length.
"I don't think anybody's really prepared for motherhood or parenthood. This was just so different from when we went to birthing class," she said.
"The whole experience was actually very calming and not that painful.”
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