A north Columbus woman gave birth in her parked car early today while on her way to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.
Barbara South, 37, had her 6-pound, 3-ounce baby, Brigita South, at about 2 o”clock this morning in the parking lot of Creative Designs and Sports across Highway 45 from Ceco Building Systems.
“You”ve got to do what you”ve got to do,” South said from her hospital room this morning.
She left her Merry Valley Drive home for the hospital in her gold Honda Odyssey shortly before the birth while her husband, Rick South, kept their five children until a friend could take over, she said.
“When I got on Highway 45, the contractions were getting somewhat intolerable,” said Barbara, who pulled over and called 911.
While on the phone, she had the baby, catching her in her pants and wrapping her in a nearby beach towel.
“As I was talking, it was done,” she said. “I kept her in my pants and in the towel. I just held her there. The second she was out, she cried.”
Columbus police responded to the scene and called Rick South, who met them in the parking lot.
Rick and Barbara South and their daughter, Brigita, arrived at the emergency room, by ambulance, at 2:22 a.m.
Barbara South thanked all the people who were at the scene, especially a Columbus Packet employee who handed her a hooded sweatshirt to wrap the baby.
“It was quite the experience,” she said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.