Some couples plan for a natural home birth instead of a trip to the hospital. For others, the experience comes as a surprise.
This was the case for Caitlin Rhodes of Columbus when she gave birth to her son, Kyzer Shuffitt, early Monday morning, with father Michael Shuffitt, of Seymour, delivering the child.
Shuffitt said his fiancée woke up at about 4 a.m. and thought that her water might have broken but wasn’t sure. She called the hospital and was told to wait an hour and time her contractions. After that hour was up, she was told to wait another hour.
When Shuffitt arrived, Rhodes was in the bathroom and couldn’t move, so he picked her up and laid her on the floor. Then she started pushing and gave birth to Kyzer at about 5:38 a.m. He is the couple’s second child together.
“The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice,” Shuffitt said. “So when he came out, I hurried up and unwrapped it and then I turned him over and had his chest in my hands. And I started rubbing his back and he started crying, so I knew he was breathing then. And then we called the ambulance.”
The situation was a first for Shuffitt, who doesn’t have experience in child delivery.
When asked how he feels now that his son is born, he replied, “It feels awesome.”
In a press release from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s department entitled “It’s a BOY!” deputies said they never know what type of call for service they will receive while they are on duty.
At about 5:46 a.m. Monday, Deputy Brandon Sellers responded to the residence in the 7000 block of West State Road 46, and while en route, was told that the mother had given birth to a baby boy.
“All agencies on scene worked together to assist with patient care and transportation to Columbus Regional Hospital,” said Sellers said. “Both mother and baby appeared to be doing well as they were prepared for transport,” he said.
Other agencies that responded were Columbus Regional Hospital EMS and Harrison Township Fire Department.
