Hancock County Maine Dispatcher Ends Shift By Helping Couple Deliver Baby
It was the early morning hours of June 2015, when my brother Pat called dispatchers down in the Gorham area to let them know that my sister-in-law Erin was in labor and the baby was coming quickly. It didn't look like there was going to be enough time for the EMTs to get to the house, so the calm voice on the other end of the line walked my brother through how to help his wife deliver their son.
Almost a decade later (and I'm sure with many other births that have happened in between) comes another incredible story of how the cool-headed skills of a dispatcher helped keep a growing little family calm enough to bring another little life into this world in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 9th.
And sources tell us this was not this dispatcher's first rodeo, as they say.
According to Hancock County Regional Communications Director Bob Conary, it was coming to the end of Madysen Robichaud's overnight shift when she answered the special call.
It was 3:15 AM when a gentleman from Orland called 911 to report that his partner thought she was going into labor. Seeing as this was not the woman's first birth, all were pretty satisfied this was not a drill, so Robichaud sprang into action, processing the call using the Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol for Childbirth.
Director Conary says all dispatchers are trained up for these situations, but it still requires a calm, cool and collected demeanor to help guide the mother and her partner through the process of delivery until EMS can get to them. It's all about keeping mom and baby safe, he says.
And that's just what Robichaud did. It took Bucksport Firefighters just over 10 minutes to get to the couple in the wee hours of the morning. And it was about 5 minutes after they arrived that the little baby boy, named Loki, made his debut.
Bucksport Baby Delivery, Bucksport Fire Department via Facebook
We're told mom and baby were transported to the local hospital just as a precaution, and that Robichaud clocked out and went home. It was all in a day's work for her.
Conary says this is the second time she's caught a birth call, and while about half of the staff at the RCC have handled delivery calls, he can't think of anyone who's done two yet.
Robichaud, who's been on staff there for several years, isn't much for the limelight. But we think she's pretty great for the help she was able to provide in some very important moments for this local couple. As someone who's been in labor 4 times myself, I can tell you reassurance and peace of mind are great gifts when you're going through the process of childbirth.
Madysen Robichause deserves a hand for providing a mom with both of those during her hour (or in this case 16 minutes) of need.
We're told Mom and baby Loki are doing just fine.
Well done, Madysen. Good job!