Skip navigation
sponsored by 

Stop the mower! She's having a baby!

Calif. mom gives birth on front lawn by herself

  
  Clickable: Creative gifts to satisfy food lovers
  Nov. 23: Forget pots and pans. Sara Haines enlists the help of lifestyle expert Maggie Gallant to find gifts that’ll make foodies say, “Mmm!”

TODAY
  Is a British royal wedding in the works?
Nov. 23: A cocktail ring worn by Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton, is sparking new rumors of a royal wedding in the works. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk reports.

updated 12:26 p.m. ET Aug. 14, 2008

FULLERTON, Calif. - Alone and in labor, Jessica Higgins found the first place she could to give birth — her front lawn.

The 36-year-old was driving home from the mall Tuesday when little Mary Claire gave her the shock of a lifetime by deciding to arrive six weeks early.

Higgins — with her 2-year-old son sleeping in the back seat — called 911 as she arrived at her Fullerton home, but she had already pushed her daughter out when police arrived.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

"She was just standing in the driveway rocking the newborn, who was still attached to the placenta," Officer Manny Ramos said Wednesday.

Higgins' husband, Jeff, arrived in time to cut the baby's umbilical cord under the front-yard ficus tree.

The proud mother, who was recovering at a hospital Wednesday, said "everything happened so fast." She said she had her son's portrait taken at the mall earlier in the day and was on hold with the doctor's office when the baby started pushing.

Mary Claire was born at 5 pounds, 11 ounces and was doing fine at St. Jude Medical Center, Higgins said.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links

Resource guide