Connecticut Mom Gives Birth to Son on American Airlines Plane Mid-flight

Kendra Rhoden American Airlines Mom Gives Birth Mid-FLight Mom gives birth on plane

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Oct 04, 06:01 am

Photo: (Photo : DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

American Airlines passengers got a surprise in early September when a baby was born in the middle of their flight, according to WFSB.

Mom Kendra Rhoden, who hails from Hartford, Connecticut, was traveling to the Dominican Republic at seven months pregnant when her water suddenly broke on the flight. That came as a major shock for Rhoden, who was six weeks out from her due date.

The Mayo Clinic said that commercial air travel before week 36 is generally considered safe if the woman has a healthy pregnancy. Rhoden said that she felt her baby kick while she was asleep on the plane, and then her water broke.

Everything happened so fast for Rhoden

Nurses on board came to help Rhoden, but it did not take long for the mom's baby boy to make his debut on the American Airlines flight. Rhoden said that everything just happened so fast, Alaska's News Source reported.

Rhoden and her newborn baby were then taken to a hospital for evaluation when the plane safely landed in the Dominican Republic. Doctors in that country ensured the mother and child stayed long enough until it was safe for both of them to fly back home to the United States, which ended up being a few weeks.

Rhoden and her infant son are now safely back home in Connecticut. She said she feels good now because she is home and he is safe. She added that he is where he needs to be right now, so she is happier than she was in the Dominican Republic.

Rhoden named her baby boy Skylan, a nod to her giving birth in the sky. Skylan's birth certificate lists him as a citizen of the United States, with his place of birth listed as in the air.

Martin gives birth on Frontier Airlines flight

This is not the first time a woman has given birth on a plane this year. Shakeria Martin became an instant celebrity in May after giving birth to a baby girl on a Frontier Airlines flight, according to Today. Martin woke up from a nap on the flight to Orlando from Denver with intense contractions, resulting in her baby coming earlier than expected.

The flight attendants on board could not find anyone on the plane with childbirth training, so they went to work themselves and helped with the delivery. Leading the way was flight attendant Diana Giraldo, who was praised by the airline for being exemplary and calm during the delivery.

Giraldo noticed that Martin was uncomfortable, and she made sure there was no space for the mom's doubts. Captain Chris Nye paid tribute to Giraldo and the entire crew, saying they did a great job. Just like Rhoden, Martin decided to give her baby the name Sky.