Newburyport firefighters make great midwives
Three quick-thinking Newburyport firefighters are being applauded after helping deliver a healthy baby boy in the parking lot of their fire station.
Humphrey Matombo was frantically honking his horn and shouting that his wife, Memory Chihwayi, was in labor when he pulled his vehicle into the parking lot of the department’s Storey Avenue station about noon Thursday, Newburyport Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire said.
When the dad-to-be told firefighters his wife wasn’t going to make it to the hospital on time, LeClaire said, Robert Morse, John Stomboly and Joshua Mesina sprang into action and noticed that the baby’s head was already crowning.
After all three firefighters assisted with the delivery and helped the baby take his first breath, LeClaire said the newborn was handed over to paramedics, who rushed him to Anna Jaques Hospital. Fire officials said Chihwayi and her 8-pound, 6-ounce baby boy were doing well yesterday.
“This was the first time any of these three firefighters have delivered a baby while on duty at the fire department,” LeClaire said in a statement. “This was truly outstanding work by our guys and something I’m sure they will always remember.”