Karla Batiste is now a mother of three and there's no question her youngest will have the most popular birth story in the family.
The Kansas City native is grateful to be happy and healthy with her newborn, Christian, after an early and incredibly fast labor that took everyone by surprise.
"He was crying and breathing okay but still I was scared, like there's no one here to help us," said Batiste.
Batiste went into labor shortly after midnight Tuesday morning. She was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital by local firefighters where she was released a short time later. According to the hospital, she was sent home because she hadn't dilated yet and her water had also not yet broken.
However, just moments after returning home, Batiste said contractions started coming in hard and fast.
"Within twenty minutes of me getting in my door, that's when I started feeling a lot of pressure and contractions, like every minute and next thing I know he's between my legs," said Batiste.
Neither her or her husband were ready.
"Oh my god. Catch him," said Batiste to her husband. "I was growling, like, grrrrrrrrr and then (laughs) he just came out."
Batiste said Christian literally slid across their linoleum floor at birth, her husband unaware and frantic while on the phone with 911 and doctors.
Just moments later, vital help arrived.
"We were a little taken aback," said KCFD firefighter Steven Graves.
Graves had given Batiste and her husband a ride to the hospital the first time that night. Now, just two and a half hours later, the baby was here, all 6 pounds 9 ounces of him, born on hallway linoleum.
When Graves arrived with his fire team, as a trained EMT, he knew what to do before the ambulance arrived.
"We made sure we were hearing sounds from the baby. We got the umbilical cord clamped, so that it could be cut once the ambulance came in," said Graves.
Batiste thanks the firefighters for keeping her calm during a very scary situation and credits Graves for possibly saving their lives.
"We just really really appreciate everybody being there for us," said Batiste.
It's created a special bond between all three.
"I said, the baby, that's my new nephew now," said Graves, who visited the hospital later Tuesday with gifts for Christian in hand.
Captain Graves, Karla Batiste and baby Christian.
But that doesn't quite mean they're ready for a repeat.
"No more babies. Nuh uh," said Batiste.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
