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Golden Gate woman goes into labor in taxi
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A Naples taxi driver had a big surprise when he arrived at 7:30 a.m. to pick up a customer in Golden Gate city. Shortly after a pregnant woman got into the taxi, her water broke.
The soon-to-be-mother, Anna, whose last name was not immediately available, was waiting for the taxi with her mother, and when Jean Eliodor, who drives cab 39 for Taxi Time, pulled up to 1965 46th Terrace SW, she asked to be taken to the hospital.
“When I got there, I saw a pregnant lady come to me and tell me she wanted to go to the Collier hospital,” said Eliodor.
Once inside the taxi, Eliodor said he could tell the woman was in a lot of pain.
He asked her if she was going to deliver the baby, and she said yes. He then called into his dispatcher for an ambulance and told Anna he could not take her to the hospital.
While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Taxi Time’s dispatcher, Stephanie Martinez, said she gave instructions from emergency officials to Eliodor over the intercom asking him to lay Anna down on the taxi seat and to time her contractions.
“They were really, really close,” Martinez said, in reference to Anna’s contractions.
Martinez also talked over the intercom to Anna, who spoke nothing but Spanish.
"We pick up and deliver, don’t we?” Martinez said.
Anna was transported to North Collier Hospital.
“Anna is doing alright,” Eliodor said, but he hadn’t yet heard if she had delivered her baby. He is waiting to hear more outside the birth center.
“It made my day, you know,” Eliodor said. “If I had to, I’d do it again.”
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Eliodor said. “If I had to, I’d do it again.”
Do what? call 911? Really brave
#1 Posted by time on January 31, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know why they can't take a pregnant lady to the hospital. Hopefully someone can answer this.
#2 Posted by NeezDutz on January 31, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The cab driver probably should have taken the woman to the new hospital on Collier Blvd. Probably would have been faster than to NCH on Immokalee Road
I agree, don't hesitate, the cab should have taken the lady, why wait?
#3 Posted by time on January 31, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they had transported her and she delivered during the transport the newborn could very well have been at risk. (The cord could be wrapped around the neck or the baby could have a breach presentation.) Complications during delivery do occur. Wiser to wait for EMS. I also don't think that their license as a taxi company allows this kind of transport. Now if someone is in the middle of going somewhere and then goes into labor and delivers before the taxi can safely stop, this is a different matter, but EMS would still be called to finish the transport.
Mrs. Vole
(the above comments were made by my wife who does not post but asked me to post them. She is a nurse. She worked in ERs and OB.)
#4 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on January 31, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your wife is correct Blue. The correct thing to do in that situation would be to call 911 and let the EMS handle the situation. If she gave birth in the ambulance she and the baby would receive proper medical care.
#5 Posted by swfl_ff on January 31, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vole, I am sure that Haitian cab driver would have no problem handling a breach delivery or any other contingency. I bet the guy has a set of delivery forceps in his trunk for his difficult patients.
#6 Posted by ZhuZhu on January 31, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Vole makes great points. The last place I would want to give birth is in the back of a cab, where who knows who or what has been sitting. Early labor is one thing, but with contractions so close and water having broken, and the mom saying the baby is coming, 911 was the best option. The taxi company made the right call.
#7 Posted by etcetcetc on January 31, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just saw the coverage on the local news. She got pregant when she was 17 and is most likely illegal. I'll bet 10 to 1 she is. There goes more tax dollars!!
#8 Posted by boone1 on January 31, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This young lady could not have hand picked a finer gentleman for a cab driver. Jean is a proud father who stood by his wife's side for the delivery of all 5 of his own children. The driver was going to North Collier Hospital because that is where his passenger initially asked to be taken. The cab had only gone a short way from the girls home when her water broke. EMS had to take her right past Doctors Regional ( Pine Ridge Rd. & Napa Blvd.) to get to North Collier. on Immokalee Rd. Computerized dispatch records indicate that the Mother-to-be waited just 6 minuets for Taxi Time to pick her up at her home, but had to wait in excess of 20 minuets for EMS to arrive. Credit the driver, the dispatcher and EMS for a job well done. By all professional accounts the driver handled to situation properly by calling 911 and proceeding as advised by the operators instructions.
#9 Posted by ITSTAXITIME on February 1, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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