Hurricane Babies Let You Imagine The Chaos Of Going Into Labor During A Natural Disaster

Ladies, remember that moment when your water broke and suddenly you realized that your baby was coming and you needed to get to the hospital fast? Or maybe you were like me, carefully timing each contraction for hours, just waiting for the moment when you had five consecutive contractions five minutes apart? In the seconds after you hit that magic marker, your heart rate jumps, you grab the go bag, and you start making your way to the hospital as soon as possible. Now let’s all imagine opening the door and being hit in the face with a hurricane when you’re about to have a baby.

While Hurricane Sandy was busy battering the east coast Monday night, there were some families who didn’t have time to share flood pictures on Instagram or cuddle up on the couch with candles and a board game. Some families were too busy giving birth to precious little hurricane babies. And just hearing about these brave moms and dads braving the elements to get to the hospital is enough to make all of us drop our jaws for a bit of justifiable awe.

Today has the stories of just a few of the moms and dads who went into labor during Hurricane Sandy. There’s Marianna and Vartan Harutunian, who had to weave through downed trees and fierce winds, but made it to their local hospital. ”Whew, it was a little bit of a roller-coaster ride,” said Vartan. Other couples, like Christine and David Schleppy, weren’t as lucky and could only manage to get to medical shelter trailers. Still, their little one made it safely, and every mom knows that’s the most important part.

We all have our labor stories. I used to think mine was dramatic because there was a bit of a winter storm going on. It took 45 minutes to get to a hospital about 10 miles away from me. While we were driving, it felt pretty suspenseful and intense. My story now pales in comparison to those who gave birth on Monday night.

We all know that little bundles of joy wait for no one, not even Mother Nature. They’re going to come when they’re good and ready, no matter what you eat, how much you walk, or what’s going on in the world around you. I suppose that’s a comforting thought, that those babies know exactly what they need. It’s also a tad horrifying.

The good news is that so far, I haven’t heard any stories of labor or delivery ended tragically due to Hurricane Sandy. I haven’t heard about mothers with complications who couldn’t get to help. The stories have all been filled with lots of stressful situations, but they’ve had happy endings.

I do think that there’s a lesson in the babies born to Hurricane Sandy for mothers who want to plan and detail every bit of the birthing process. Sometimes, things are just out of your control. And as long as you end up with a beautiful little baby in your arms, none of that will matter.

(Photo: Reynardt/Shutterstock)