What Happens When a Woman Has to Give Birth on a Subway Platform?

Earlier this morning, some Washington, D.C., Metro riders experienced something special: just before 11 a.m., a woman went into labor on a northbound Green Line train and within minutes, delivered a healthy baby boy right on the platform at the L'Enfant Plaza station.

Station manager Saa Alpha says he heard "real loud groaning, moaning" from a pregnant woman who had just exited a train, and then saw her water break. He proceeded to call for medical assistance. That's when things took a turn for the lucky: An off-duty EMT who just happened to be on the same train rushed to assist the woman as it became clear she would need to deliver the baby right on the platform. Another passenger removed his t-shirt and gave it to the EMT for use during the delivery.