Deputy delivers baby in car; mother unaware of pregnancy

COVINGTON — St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Donald A. Plaisance Jr. saved the life of a newborn in Covington.
Plaisance and new recruit Deputy Bryce Morse, who have been in the patrol division for less than a week, were dispatched to a medical emergency on Slemmer Road in Covington on Saturday.
When they arrived at the residence, Plaisance came into contact with an unidentified female who pointed to a car and stated, “She’s in there.” Plaisance looked in the vehicle and observed a Hispanic female sitting in the front passenger seat of a small vehicle with her left foot propped up on the dashboard. Plaisance observed a baby’s head lying on the seat between the legs of the female. The baby was not moving or making a sound.
It was learned the mother had no prior prenatal care and was unsure as to length of the pregnancy. Plaisance, while speaking through the translator, reached for the baby’s head attempting to clear the airway with a chin lift. Plaisance observed the umbilical cord to be wrapped around the baby’s neck. He used his fingers to unwrap the umbilical cord, clearing the baby’s airway and an immediate cry was heard.
With the cord removed from the neck, Plaisance supported the baby’s head, planning to wait for EMS. However, the motion of supporting the head caused the child to be lifted up and the baby to deliver from the mother’s body into Plaisance’s hands. He observed the child was a baby boy and the child again began to cry. Plaisance held the crying child as members of Fire District 12 arrived with blankets to wrap the child.
Paramedics arrived on scene and cut the umbilical cord. The mother and baby were both transported to Lakeview Regional Medical Center for further care.
The mother and baby were both doing well.