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Baby on board boat, plane

March 22nd, 2004 · No Comments

Via Scripting News I read the Telegraph’s report Virgin celebrates first mid-air birth

Abimbola Eduwa, 28, was flying with her 19-month-old son Ogbenetega from Lagos to London to visit relatives. She had been assured by doctors that the birth of her second child was at least a month away.

But just one hour into the six-and-a-half hour flight, and at 30,000ft above the Sahara Desert, Mrs Eduwa began to go into labour. Luckily there was a doctor and a nurse onboard flight VS652 and Mrs Eduwa gave birth to a healthy 8lb girl.

It sounds like she had a quick delivery(!):

Mrs Eduwa said: “The baby was not ready yet – this one came as a surprise. I was just sitting down and suddenly I realised that the head was already through.

They are considering naming the baby in honor of their Virgin Airlines flight:

Her husband Chris said: “They said I should call her Virginia, I think we will. We usually pray for a name but Virginia is fine.”

This story reminded me of my own fears that I would give birth on a boat. We live on Bainbridge Island, and it is a 35 minute ferry ride to Seattle, where our doctor and hospital are. I have met people who had babies or came very close to doing so during the ride across the Sound. And I was told that the ferry workers were well-trained and experienced, should I go into labor on the boat. Still I am grateful I didn’t have to utilize their training and that I was able to deliver my babies in the Seattle hospital.

I’ve also heard that there are native islanders who have Tacoma, Walla Walla or Wenatchee for a middle name. Like baby Virginia, they were named after their birthplace: the ferry boat.

Perhaps this list of vessel names from Washington State Ferries could serve as another source of baby names ;-)!

Tags: motherhood