COLORADO COUPLE WELCOMES BABY DAUGHTER ON HIGHWAY AFTER LABOR BEGINS UNEXPECTEDLY BEFORE HOSPITAL ARRIVAL. (PHOTO)

 Colorado couple welcomes baby daughter on highway after labor begins unexpectedly before hospital arrival

Jennifer Maestas and her husband Ricardo were expecting to deliver their baby at a Colorado hospital, but their daughter arrived before they reached their destination.

Jennifer was 35½ weeks pregnant on Feb. 18 when she noticed signs that labor had started. Ricardo, who had been away on a work trip, returned home and the couple immediately left for the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.

Their baby was expected to need specialised care because doctors had identified Down syndrome and a heart defect before birth.

While driving to the hospital, the couple realised they would not arrive in time. Their doula, who had been following behind them, joined them in the vehicle and helped deliver the baby.

Ricardo caught their daughter, Kiana, as she was born on the side of the highway. Paramedics later arrived and took the family to the hospital.

Kiana was born breathing and stable, but her medical journey continued after birth. She later contracted RSV, required breathing support for 12 days, experienced severe reflux and underwent open-heart surgery.

During her time in the Children’s Hospital Colorado NICU, Kiana also became the first baby there whose care team used fortified breast milk through Milkify Medical.

After nearly 130 days in hospital care, Kiana was finally able to return home with her family.

“Finally just having our family all together under the same roof is just everything we could have ever hoped for,” Jennifer said.