Tennessee woman gives birth on a HIGHWAY with the help of her delivery driver husband - who had to unwrap the umbilical cord from the baby's neck

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES 
  • Gayla Thompson, 29, from Nashville, had contractions all day Tuesday and decided to go to the hospital the next day when they got stronger
  • She and her husband Ryan, 30, dropped off their five-year-old son Conor before heading to Vanderbilt Medical Center, which was a 20-minute drive away  
  • Halfway there, Gayla realized she was about to give birth, but Ryan wouldn't call 911 because he didn't think she was in 'actual labor'
  • Ryan delivered the baby in their Jeep on the side of I-440, only pulling over and calling for an ambulance when the baby's head was 'all the way out' 
  • The dad had to carefully remove the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the baby's neck before the ambulance arrived 10 minutes later
  • Although she lost a lot of blood during the delivery, both Gayla and the baby boy, whom they named Carson, were declared healthy 

An expectant mother gave birth on the side of a highway with the help of her husband, who had to unwrap the umbilical cord from the baby's neck after he initially refused to call 911 because he didn't think she was in 'actual labor.' 

Gayla Thompson, 29, from Nashville, Tennessee, was in labor for two days but didn't realize it. She had contractions all day Tuesday and decided to go to the hospital the next day when they got stronger and almost knocked her off her feet.   

She and her delivery driver husband Ryan, 30, dropped off their five-year-old son Conor before hitting the road. The drive from their home in Mt. Juliet to Nashville should have only taken 20 minutes, but halfway there, Gayla realized she was about to give birth. 

'I was in way too much pain to yell at Ryan, so I calmly told him over and over to speed and drive in the medium lanes with our warning lights on or call 911,' Gayla, who works as a photographer, told Jam Press. 

Miracle: Gayla Thompson, 29, from Nashville, Tennessee, gave birth to her second son, Carson, on  the side of a highway on  Wednesday, June 16

Miracle: Gayla Thompson, 29, from Nashville, Tennessee, gave birth to her second son, Carson, on  the side of a highway on  Wednesday, June 16

Scary: The mom's husband Ryan, 30, delivered the baby in their Jeep Wrangler on the side of I-440, only pulling over and calling for an ambulance when the baby's head was 'all the way out'
Scary: The mom's husband Ryan, 30, delivered the baby in their Jeep Wrangler on the side of I-440, only pulling over and calling for an ambulance when the baby's head was 'all the way out'

Scary: The mom's husband Ryan, 30, delivered the baby in their Jeep Wrangler on the side of I-440, only pulling over and calling for an ambulance when the baby's head was 'all the way out'

Healthy baby boy: Carson weighed 7 lbs. 3 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long at birth

Healthy baby boy: Carson weighed 7 lbs. 3 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long at birth

'He didn't think I was in actual labor so he refused. He didn't want to call 911 because he thought we would make it and it would be a waste of their time.'

Gayla's water didn't break until she started crowning, which added to Ryan's doubts. 

'I was screaming during every contraction and then all of a sudden was in too much pain to scream, and was completely silent — that was my body's sign that baby was actually coming right then and there,' she recalled. 

Ryan delivered the baby in their Jeep on the side of I-440 in Nashville, only pulling over and calling for an ambulance when the baby's head was 'all the way out.'

 'We were super worried at first because his head was stuck for a solid two minutes before my next push,' Gayla said. 'There was no crying — just a purple-blue baby hanging out for two whole minutes.

'When he finally came all the way out, we realized the cord was also wrapped around his neck. We freaked out a little but got him to cry some.' 

Whoops: 'He didn't think I was in actual labor so he refused. He didn't want to call 911 because he thought we would make it and it would be a waste of their time,' she explained

Whoops: 'He didn't think I was in actual labor so he refused. He didn't want to call 911 because he thought we would make it and it would be a waste of their time,' she explained

Relief: Ryan had to carefully remove the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the baby's neck before the ambulance arrived 10 minutes later. Both Gayla and Carson are healthy

Relief: Ryan had to carefully remove the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the baby's neck before the ambulance arrived 10 minutes later. Both Gayla and Carson are healthy 

Doting dad: Ryan doesn't have any medical training, but he explained that he was able to instinctively deliver Carson after watching the doctors during the birth of their first child

Doting dad: Ryan doesn't have any medical training, but he explained that he was able to instinctively deliver Carson after watching the doctors during the birth of their first child

Ryan had to carefully remove the umbilical cord before the ambulance arrived 10 minutes later and transported them to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where the mom delivered her placenta.

Although she lost a lot of blood during the delivery, both Gayla and the baby boy, whom they named Carson, were declared healthy.

Gayla, who had also given birth to her son Conor naturally, admitted that she planned on asking for pain medication this time around, but she didn't get the chance.  

'My first-born was all-natural and after that experience, this one was supposed to be delivered with all the drugs," Gayla told WZTV, laughing. 

Ryan doesn't have any medical training, but he explained to the news station that he was able to instinctively deliver Carson after watching the doctors during the birth of their first child.    

'It was scary but absolutely amazing at the same time,' the dad said, noting that it is ironic that Carson was born in a Jeep because of his name. 

Another surprise: Ryan noted the irony that Carson was born in a Jeep.  They chose the moniker before he was born with plans to call him CJ, and Jeep Wranglers have a 'CJ' model

Another surprise: Ryan noted the irony that Carson was born in a Jeep.  They chose the moniker before he was born with plans to call him CJ, and Jeep Wranglers have a 'CJ' model

Family of four: The couple also has a five-year-old son Conor, whom they had dropped off before driving to the hospital on Wednesday

Family of four: The couple also has a five-year-old son Conor, whom they had dropped off before driving to the hospital on Wednesday

They chose the moniker before he was born with plans to call him CJ — Jeep Wranglers have a 'CJ' model. 

Gayla, who specializes in newborn photography at her business GT Photography, captured her youngest son's incredible birth herself, taking pictures with one hand while holding the newborn with another. 

The baby boy weighed 7 lbs. 3 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long at birth.   

Gayla shared her 'crazy' story on Facebook, where the post has received more than 2,300 likes and dozens of comments.  

'So, so cool and terrifying at the same time. Way to go momma,' one person wrote, while another gushed: ''You're literally amazing.'

Someone else added: 'So amazing, you are such a super momma. This is my biggest fear being two hours from the hospital.'

People also couldn't resist poking fun at the situation, with one Facebook user noting: 'That's going to be a funny story if you get your car professionally cleaned.' 

Making light of the irony that Ryan works as a delivery driver, someone else said: 'UPS can't come up with a delivery that you can't handle.'

'Man your husband can deliver anything huh,' another joked.

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