Lockport first responders delivered a miracle baby in an emergency premature birth.
The swift actions of the first responders from the City of Lockport Fire Department have been praised for saving the lives of a mother and her baby boy.
The mother, Rosanna Roman, who was in her 24th week of pregnancy, gave birth unexpectedly while being transported in the ambulance after experiencing excessive bleeding.
Lockport first responders immediate rescue
Rosanna Roman found herself in a life-threatening situation.
According to the New York Post, she had been experiencing extreme vaginal bleeding, and despite initially planning to drive herself to Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo, her condition quickly worsened.
Fortunately, her 19-year-old son called 9-1-1, and City of Lockport fire rescuers was dispatched to the scene.
Lockport paramedics Karen Gavin and Matt Devine quickly arrived and found Roman in a precarious situation.
Gavin reported that she realized Roman had lost a lot of blood, and as transport progressed, it became apparent that she was bleeding heavily and would need advanced care.
However, before they could make it to the hospital, Roman went into premature labor.
The first responders were taken aback, as none knew that a baby was coming, not even Roman.
The crew sprang into action in a matter of moments, determined to do whatever was necessary to save both mother and baby.
Gavin asked the ambulance driver to pull over, and she and Devine quickly got to work. The baby was born still inside the amniotic sac, a rare occurrence that added to the already tense situation.
The team had to break open the sac to begin life-saving efforts, which they immediately did.
It was a harrowing experience for Roman, who feared for her life and her baby's life. The expectant mother said she thought she would not make it and thought for a moment that she would die.
The mother also thought the baby would not make it as the bleeding continued. The baby boy was born weighing only 1 pound, 10 ounces and will require ongoing medical care, but he is alive and well.
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Premature births in America
According to the CDC, premature birth, which happens when a baby is born before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy, remains a concern in the United States.
In 2021, about 1 in every 10 infants born in the country was preterm. Unfortunately, the preterm birth rate increased from 10.1 percent in 2020 to 10.5 percent in 2021.
However, certain racial and ethnic groups are still disproportionately affected by this issue. Preterm birth can lead to severe complications for babies born before 32 weeks.
These infants have higher rates of death and disability, and preterm birth and low birth weight are estimated to account for approximately 16 percent of infant deaths in 2020.
Surviving preterm infants may experience feeding difficulties, breathing problems, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and hearing and vision issues.
As per WKBW, the first responders needed to perform CPR on the baby boy due to the mother's bleeding.
Sebastian Harris, the baby's father, shared that witnessing the first responder saving his son's life was frightening and powerful.
The baby, now named after his father, Sebastian Harris, is in stable condition in the hospital. The mother also received the necessary medical care and is now recovering.
Karen Gavin shared her happiness with the outcome, stating that she was in the right place at the right time and that she was thrilled to see everyone doing well.
