Two New Jersey police officers have been reunited with two very grateful parents and their new baby after an impromptu delivery at the couple’s home.
Patrolling Cranford officers, Thomas Bell and James Knight met expecting parents Gina and Noberto Chaves on the morning of Dec. 20, 2020, when they responded to a 911 call from the Chaveses’ home address. Gina’s water had suddenly broken and the baby was already crowning.
Bell, a 21-year veteran of the force, quickly ascertained the situation and made an on-the-spot call to help deliver the baby right there, according to a Facebook post by the Cranford Police Department.
While delivering the baby, Bell noticed that the baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck.
Bell successfully removed the cord, and baby Lucas came into the world fit and healthy. His first cries brought relief to the entire entourage before Cranford First Aid Squad arrived on the scene to check on the newborn and monitor Gina’s condition. The mother-son duo was then taken to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, for an evaluation.
Nuchal cord—the medical term used for an umbilical cord wrapped around a baby’s neck in utero—can occur during pregnancy, labor, or birth. The majority of nuchal cords are harmless, according to Healthline, adding that 1 in 3 babies are born without issue with the cord wrapped around their neck.
If the cord is cutting off blood flow, however, the situation could be life-threatening to the baby.
On Jan. 14, 2021, Officers Bell and Knight were reunited with Lucas and his parents at their home. Cranford Police Department celebrated the story on Facebook by posting a photo of the young family and the two officers at their reunion.
“The proud parents… expressed their gratitude to the responding officers and EMT’s for their actions,” the post read. The couple also confirmed that Lucas is perfectly healthy.
Social media users immediately took to the comments section to praise the officers for their efforts in assisting to deliver the baby.
“I saw this live on the news this morning and was so proud of our Police Department!” one netizen commented.
“Wow! This is truly amazing,” wrote another. “Thank you Cranford PD and EMTs. Also, congratulations Gina and fam on the new baby!”
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