Pregnant firefighter helps woman trapped in car crash before giving birth

A pregnant firefighter is being hailed as a hero after helping a woman involved in a car accident, before going on to give birth to her own baby the same day.

Megan Warfield was involved in the multi-vehicle crash in Maryland earlier this month. As a result of the accident, the car in front of Warfield overturned, trapping the driver inside. Noting that the woman needed help, Warfield rushed to her side and helped her stay calm and stable until emergency medical personnel arrived.

“I started to climb in there with her, but then I was like, ‘What are you doing? You’re nine months pregnant,’” Warfield told TODAY Parents. “I ended up holding onto her to keep her in place because I wasn’t sure of her injuries at the time.

“It was also important that I keep her calm,” Warfield added. “It was a pretty traumatic event.”

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After emergency personnel arrived, Warfield, who was still about a week away from her due date, decided it was in her best interest to head into the hospital to make sure she and her preborn child were ok. What she discovered was that the trauma of the accident had actually knocked her baby into a traverse — sideways — position, and kickstarted labor.

“Then I realized I was cramping and a little uncomfortable and dizzy,” Warfield told WMAR-TV. “We got down to Johns Hopkins and I had some contractions that entire night and then they decided our little Charlotte was due to come into the world.” Less than 24 hours later, she gave birth, and Charlotte was healthy.

Chief Fire Officer Shannon Stallings told WMAR-TV that he was amazed at Warfield’s willingness to help. “It’s not uncommon to see our volunteers on scene,” Stallings said, “but to see one that’s been on administrative duties only laying in glass and oil trying to care for someone just weeks out of her due date, it blew my mind. You don’t see that every day.”

Fire Chief Joanne Rund also praised Warfield in a statement to TODAY. “We take pride in our dedicated Fire and EMS personnel. Not only do they give their all when they are on duty, but also when they are off duty,” Rund wrote. “We congratulate FF Warfield and her family and appreciate her service.”

For Warfield, helping out no matter what the circumstances was all in a day’s work. “It’s just first instinct to me, you know, I’m a firefighter for Baltimore County so I just kind of went right into that,” she said. “What’s the first thing to do, assess the situation and how can I help and get additional resources as quick as I can.”