Mother gives birth midair on Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland

Passengers of a Delta flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Portland were part of a special night as a woman on board went into labor in the air Friday.

The airline confirmed a passenger on flight 478 started to have contractions while still in the air on the way to Oregon. She gave birth 30 minutes before the flight made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport around 10 p.m., the airline said.

"We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer onboard prior to landing in Portland," Delta Air Lines spokesperson Sabrina Cole told local outlets. "The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority, and we wish the family all the best."

Medical personnel step in to help

Paramedics Tina Fritz and Kaarin Powell were traveling home when a call went out over the intercom for medical professionals aboard Delta flight 478, Fritz said in a Facebook post about the incident.

According to photos posted by Powell, the duo was vacationing in the Dominican Republic before returning home to Oregon and connected through Atlanta.

Fritz said she and Powell were assisting another passenger when the staff approached them and asked if they could help a women with contractions. Fritz said the contractions were already three minutes apart, and that somehow she and Powell were the most qualified on the plane to delivery a baby.

"I asked for an OB kit, which they did not have. I asked for blankets, which they did not have. So I was like, okay, we need to get blankets from passengers. I need some shoestrings. So the flight attendant took his shoestring out, cut it for us," Fritz told KOIN in an interview. "(The mother)'s like I gotta push, I gotta push. And within three really good pushes, the baby was out and doing perfect."

In the post, Fritz said the baby girl weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces and was 18.5 inches long and healthy.

"And the cutest thing ever," she wrote.

"It was a once in a lifetime experience," Fritz told KOIN.

Can you fly while pregnant?

According to Delta's policies, there are no restrictions for flying while pregnant on the airline. Pregnant passengers do not need to carry a medical certificate or note from their doctor to fly Delta.

However, it is recommended to consult with a medical professional before deciding to fly.

Flying anytime before 36 weeks is generally considered safe, according to the Mayo Clinic, as long as your pregnancy doesn't have additional complications like anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes or twins, among other conditions.

Medical professionals may warn against flying past 36 weeks in the pregnancy, and some airlines may require documentation from a doctor to fly while pregnant. Doctors are worried about blood clots and radiation, both of which can be more intense and severe while on an airplane, according to the Mayo Clinic.

It's important to check these requirements while planning your trip, and plan to use the plane seatbelt, drink lots of water, avoid gassy foods and drinks before flying and plan for any emergency obstetric care if needed on your trip.

Irene Wright covers Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].