A 26-year-old woman gave birth to a baby girl on a busy MTA subway train Wednesday morning, surprising commuters and bringing some welcome news amid recent concerns about the city’s transit system.
According to NYPD sources, the woman went into labor on the southbound W train at 34th Street-Herald Square station in Midtown. A quick-thinking bystander called 911 as the situation unfolded.
Although details about who assisted with the delivery are unclear, police sources confirmed that the baby was born at 11:35 a.m. on February 12, before officers arrived on the scene. The conductor of the train, upon hearing about the birth, stopped the train in the station and rushed to the car with a NYC Transit supervisor and multiple NYPD officers.
EMS workers quickly arrived and took both mother and baby to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in Kips Bay, where they are said to be in stable condition, according to police.
The birth provided a rare piece of positive news amid ongoing discussions of subway crime, homelessness, and other issues that have plagued the system in recent months.
“This incident is a perfect example of New Yorkers coming together to help each other, with support from transit workers and first responders,” said Demetrius Crichlow, president of NYC Transit. “We’re happy to report that both mother and baby are doing well, and we look forward to seeing them back on the subway for less dramatic rides.”
In an interesting twist, the newborn shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. February 12 is also Lincoln’s Birthday, a holiday in New York and seven other states, though it is more commonly observed nationwide as part of Presidents Day, which falls on the third Monday of February.
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