The Gilles were due to give birth last Wednesday at their home in Lake Arrowhead, but their baby was due a week later. The family was cut off by snowdrifts in San Bernardino County, while the people who were going to help with the delivery were far from the white-covered mountain.
But suddenly, Stephanie’s waters burst. After the storms in late February, all roads to Lake Arrowhead were closed and a harrowing journey began, taking up to five hours for everyone involved.
“We called them (the midwives) around 2:15 p.m. and told them my waters had broken and my contractions were starting, and they said they were coming,” Stephanie said.
“The whole road up the mountain was completely blocked off,” said Lisa Marie Oxenham, a midwife.
“That’s when things started to get a little stressful for me, wondering all the possibilities, what could happen,” Stephanie said.
“The road was blocked, the snow plows were trying to clear the path in front of us,” says Richard Oxenhem, student midwife.
But, the babies were in a bit of a hurry. “The contractions were close. The baby will probably be here before I get there,” Lisa Marie said.
The midwives got stuck in the snow and had to walk 20 minutes to the Gilles’ house. They finally got home nearly five hours after Stephanie’s waters broke and minutes after the baby was born.
Fortunately everything went well for mom and dad.
Baby Audrey was born healthy and weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces.
Mom and baby are doing very well.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.