By Eleanor Cade Busby
Aydan Daniel Bailey was safely delivered by his father Mark Bailey 11:30 p.m. Feb. 20 near the Eagle’s Nest in Newcastle.
The Taylor-Bailey family welcomed its newest addition near the Eagle’s Nest in Newcastle Feb. 20. Shown (from left) are brother AJ Giacomuzzi, Theresa Taylor with Aydan Bailey, Mark Bailey, and sister Lilly Bailey. (Sherwood Olin photo) |
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Theresa Taylor was sure she was having false labor contractions on Thursday afternoon at her Jefferson home. Taylor had brief labors with her earlier children. This seemed so mild in comparison with her recollections that she just continued on with her ordinary day. The mother of two, AJ 6, and Lily 3, wasn’t in much discomfort, she said.
“It wasn’t hard contractions, not very painful at all,” she said.
When Taylor’s contractions increased in frequency the couple decided to just check in with the hospital by phone. “They told us to come in, the weather was looking bad for Friday morning,” said Taylor.
Bailey and Taylor contacted a neighbor to watch the kids, and started off for LincolnHealth – Miles Campus in Damariscotta.
Things changed quickly once the couple got into the car. As Bailey drove, Taylor had two more contractions and her water broke. She knew she shouldn’t push so she told Bailey to “step on it.”
Taylor didn’t want to panic Bailey, but she had no choice but to alert him to what was happening. “I told him I had to push and he stepped on it a little more,” she said. “Then I told him to stop because the baby was coming now.”
Bailey pulled over by the Eagle’s Nest on Route 215 in Newcastle. He ran around to the passenger side of the car, flipped Taylor’s seat back in the jeep and looked and said, “Well, there’s his head.”
One quick push and Mark Bailey was holding his son. It was 11:30. Taylor took the baby in her arms and rubbed his back and heard “the wonderful sound of his cry.” She wrapped him in her coat while rubbing his back and legs to be sure he was breathing well.
Bailey ran back to the driver’s side and “stepped on it” once again. They arrived at the hospital parking lot in the Jeep turned delivery room, and he ran in to get help.
The staff at the emergency room had to be told twice that Taylor had the baby in the car but they jumped into action and Theresa Taylor was in the hands of the experts.
Aydan Daniel Bailey weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long. Neither mother nor son had any complications from the sudden delivery. They were discharged from Miles on Saturday morning.
Looking back at the adventure, Taylor said “Mark was just in shock afterward. I can’t believe how calm he was. He delivered his own baby, drove us safely and got help for us.”
Older brother AJ wasn’t sure he believed the story about his new brother’s quick appearance. “He kept saying ‘No way,'” Taylor said, laughing.
Mark Bailey hadn’t planned on ever doing the job he was called on to do last Thursday night. He works regularly with his dad in the family business painting houses and that suits him fine. He is now cast in the role of father to a new son and Taylor’s hero.
“Aydan is our miracle baby,” Taylor said. “I couldn’t be more thankful.”
