Clarkstown Dispatcher Meets Woman She Helped Guide In Delivering Sister-In-Law's Baby

CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A newborn baby girl had some surprises in store, not only for her mother but for an unexpected aunt.

Nicole Felder says her pregnant sister-in-law's water broke as she was walking out of her New City home and contractions were intensifying. Felder says she called 911 knowing she'd be delivering her niece Nina on the living room floor.

"I kind of like was in auto pilot.  I wasn't really thinking I was just doing," Felder said. "Like I knew I needed to call 911 and we needed to grab everything because I knew we weren't going to make it to the hospital."

Felder:  "They're a minute a part."

Dispatcher : "One minute a part?"

Felder:  "Yes."

Dispatcher: "OK hold on one second, give me one second."

Felder: "And this is her third child.  She's crowning!  Oh my God!"

Clarkstown police dispatcher Lorraine Monahan patiently guided Felder step-by-step, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported.

Felder:  "The baby's face is out."

Dispatcher: "OK.  Once the head is out, wipe out the mouth. Ok"

Felder: "OK"

Dispatcher: "OK.  Wipe it out with a nice clean, dry towel."

Felder: "OK"

Dispatcher:"OK.  Is the umbilical cord…"

Felder:  "The umbilical cord is around the baby's neck!"

Dispatcher: "Ok.  Alright. You gotta take that cord out ok?"

Felder: "Ok.  How do I do that?  Ok.  I got it. I got it."

Within seconds, baby Nina was safely in the arms of her aunt.

Dispatcher: "Ok, the baby's breathing?"

Felder: "Yes.  She's breathing."

Dispatcher: "Nicole?"

Felder:  "Yeah."

Dispatcher: "Is it a girl or a boy?"

Felder:  "It's a girl!"

Once separated by a phone line, Felder and Monahan met face-to-face Sunday, feeling grateful for flawless teamwork.

"I have to tell you.  I don't know what you do for a living but you were so calm on the phone.  You did a fantastic job.  I was quite impressed," Monahan told Felder.

"She was very precise with her directions so it was kind of easy," Felder said.

Felder, a mother of two, says remembering her experience giving birth to her children helped her stay calm and keep her sister-in-law calm.

Both mother and baby are said to be doing fine.

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