Security Forces Airmen delivers daughter in SUV

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Zadach and Staff Sgt. Nathan Kemp
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis-St. Paul --  Staff Sgt. Nathan Kemp, 934th Security Forces Squadron, and his wife Natalie were growing impatient. Although their third child was due September 25, it was already the 21st and they saw no signs that the baby was coming anytime soon. "When I left for work at the 934 SFS at approximately 8:20 p.m., nothing seemed out of the ordinary," said Sergeant Kemp. At about 8:30 Natalie started having some contractions but thought they were just more of the Braxton Hicks she had been experiencing for some time. At about 9:00 p.m. she laid down to see if the contractions would subside, but unlike previous times, they kept getting more intense. At around 9:15 p.m. she called their babysitter and a friend and started getting ready to go to the hospital while she waited for her midwife to call back.

At 9:30 p.m. guardmount started for the overnight "Charlie" Security Forces flight at the 934 SFS. "It was the only time of day I had my cell phone turned off," said the Sergeant. "In the middle of guardmount our shift supervisor answered the phone and was told by the Operations Controller that I needed to call my 'off duty supervisor.' I stepped out and Natalie answered the phone in mid contraction. From what I heard this seemed like the night, but she said she would call back. Two minutes later she called back and said to come home."

Sergeant Kemp had already talked to his shift leadership letting them know that the labors for his two other children had gone very quickly and he expected this one to be fast as well so they would be prepared if he had to leave on short notice. "Thankfully, I was not out on post and was still at the armory so I was able to leave for home within minutes," he said.

Sergeant Kemp arrived home at approximately 9:50 p.m. to find his wife in very active labor with her contractions about four minutes apart. After changing out of his uniform he and Natalie quickly boarded their van and their friend Jan followed in her car. "As we drove, Natalie urged me to speed," said Sergeant Kemp. "Go faster I think the cops will understand," Natalie pleaded. "Sensing the urgency, I picked up the pace a little but really didn't want to get pulled over so I kept things reasonable," said Sergeant Kemp. About four minutes into the drive Natalie's contractions were three minutes apart and moments later, they were two minutes apart.

Sergeant Kemp could tell that things were progressing extremely quickly and Natalie began questioning if they would even make it to the hospital. "I asked her to just give me fair warning so I could pull off the highway and find a quiet parking lot. As we quickly drove down the highway, Natalie asked me to call the hospital and page her midwife." Kemp received one of the most ironic messages ever when he made the call, "We are sorry, all of operators are currently busy, please stay on the line and someone will be with you shortly." "Really! At 10:00 p.m. are that many people calling the hospital?" he said to himself.

As they crossed over the Minnesota River Natalie suddenly said, "We should turn around and go home, I don't think we're going to make it." Sergeant Kemp took the next exit ramp and as they entered the apex of the turn Natalie suddenly shouted, "My water broke and I think the baby is coming!" Sergeant Kemp looked for the closest empty parking lot he could find which happened to be DJ Pete's Auto Repair Shop. As if they were plunged into a scene from a situation comedy, the sign at the shop displayed "Low Labor Rates" in the front window. Sergeant Kemp pulled the van into a side lot and got to work prepping the van.

"I quickly put down the stow and go seats, which I was suddenly so thankful for, and helped Natalie to the back of the van," said Sergeant Kemp. "Jan pulled up behind us and I handed her the cell phone which still was chanting, 'We are sorry all of operators are currently busy, please stay on the line and someone will be with you shortly.' Natalie said, "The baby is coming!" And sure enough it was. "We got ready as best we could and prepared to receive the little one into the world," Sergeant Kemp said. The Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in 2001 and hs used his skills as an Air Force cop in dealing with stabbings, drownings, cuts, allergic reactions and an axe stuck in a guys foot. But other than his involvement in his other two children's births, this was his first time running a field delivery room. "I wasn't nervous, I felt surprisingly calm and level headed and followed the lead of nature in what was happening," he said. A couple minutes later at 10:13pm, 7 lb. 6 oz, Isabella Grace was born safe and sound. After a brief but humorous discussion on how to clamp and cut an umbilical cord with shoe strings and a Gerber knife, they decided to leave things as they were.

About then the hospital operator answered the phone and paged the midwife who promptly called back. Sergeant Kemp and Natalie discussed what to do next and decided that since baby was fine, mom was fine, and all an ambulance was going to do was drive, they would just continue on to the hospital. The midwife said she would meet them at the emergency room entrance. Twenty minutes later they arrived at the hospital. The midwife hopped in the van in the parking lot, cut the umbilical cord and mom and baby were admitted to the hospital, both doing just fine after warming up and getting something to eat.

"In retrospect Natalie and I are both very happy with how events unfolded. Natalie was happy that it went quickly and safely. I was fulfilled because delivering one of my kids was something I'd always wanted to do. It was an exciting and remarkable experience for everyone involved."