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Jennifer Russell, Mom Gives Birth In Car, Dad Films The Whole Thing (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post   First Posted: 01/25/2012 12:48 pm Updated: 01/25/2012 3:22 pm

With the steering wheel in one hand, and a video camera in the other, dad Zachary Russell kept driving as his wife Jennifer gave birth. The couple was racing down Highway 287 in Texas towards a birthing center when Jennifer went into labor. "By the time my water broke, I pushed once and she was out," the second-time mom told kiiitv.

Jennifer was shocked by how quickly she delivered because, with her first child, she labored for 12 hours. This time, despite the circumstances, Zachary was determined to catch the whole thing on camera. He held his right band behind the passenger side seat, made sure the birth was in frame and managed to keep both eyes on the road. When baby Willow arrived, he even captured Jennifer on film unwrapping the umbilical chord.

The couple told kiitv that the Ford compact they were in will have to be Willow's first car so she can tell people, "Okay, I was born right there!"

The Russell's birth story is certainly surprising, but it isn't exactly unique. In October 2011, a mom in Idaho gave birth in her car just feet from the hospital; in November, another woman in Cincinnati delivered in her brother's Volkswagen. And, the mother who may take the prize for most shocking birth-in-a-car story? Amanda McBride, the woman who had her baby while driving herself to the hospital in May 2010.

Related on HuffPost:

Here are the ten more jaw-dropping birth stories that didn't take place in a hospital. Click through and let us know about your birth experience in the comments.
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  • In A Tree

    In 2000, Sofia Pedro <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/02/mozambique1" target="_hplink">climbed a tree</a> to escape the floodwaters in Mozambique, Africa. The brave mom held onto branches as she delivered her baby Rosita. A few minutes later, they were rescued by a South African helicopter crew, umbilical cord still attached.

  • At McDonald's

    In 2007, McDonald's employee Danille Miller -- who didn't know she was pregnant -- felt a sudden urge to run to the bathroom during her shift. A few minutes later, she <a href="http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2007/12/30/baby-born-at-mcdonald-s-mom-didn-t-know-she-was-pregnant.aspx" target="_hplink">gave birth to baby Austin</a>. Sources were unable to confirm if she changed her greeting to, "Would you like a baby with that burger?"

  • In A Library

    Dominique Trevino was on the way to the hospital by bus in 2009 when she started <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11573019" target="_hplink">having contractions</a>. Another passenger, who worked at the hospital, told her to get off at the library. Once inside, library security pitched in to help deliver her baby girl. She only had to push twice.

  • At A Post Office

    Sonia Marina Nascimento stopped by a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/8050190.stm" target="_hplink">post office in England</a> to buy a mobile phone credit -- but got more than just a top up: she went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl right there. The post-master, who put the baby on the scales (and handled her with care?), said she weighed "the equivalent of an £8.22 first class parcel."

  • On A Sidewalk

    In 2009, Tiffany Kohls gave birth a few <a href="http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11431007" target="_hplink">feet away from a hospital</a> in Wisconsin. She said there was no stopping her son Kellen's arrival. Security guards and a nurse helped delivered him.

  • In A Car (That She Was Driving)

    In 2010, Amanda McBride felt like she was <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/minnesota-woman-gives-birth-while-driving-herself-to-the-hospital/1" target="_hplink">going into labor</a>, so she picked up her husband -- who suffers from seizures -- and headed towards the hospital. While en route, her water broke and her husband took the wheel. "And then, all of a sudden, I heard this little waa-a-a-a (cry)," he said.

  • On A Highway Shoulder

    A New Jersey couple was on their way to the hospital when mom Alshesirca started having contractions on the <a href="http://www.northjersey.com/news/transportation/011011_Woman_gives_birth_on_parkway_husband_delivers_child.html" target="_hplink">Garden State Parkway</a>. Dad-to-be Nelson pulled over and delivered his baby on the side of the road with a 911 operator guiding him. "I was just glad we were driving our truck and not our Civic," said mom.

  • At 40,000 Feet

    In September, Aida Alamillo was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/baby-born-on-plane-nation_n_973437.html" target="_hplink">flying from Manila to San Francisco</a> when she went into pre-term labor. Three nurses on board and cabin crew members helped deliver baby Kevin Raymar Francis Domingo --"Francis" because they were en route to San Francisco.

  • On The Internet

    OK, so she was technically at home, but Nancy Salgueiro set up a high-definition video camera in her living room in Canada to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/10/17/ottawa-live-birth-online.html" target="_hplink">livestream the birth of her son</a>. More than 2,000 people registered to watch online. Her two-year-old son cut the umbilical cord.

  • In An Art Gallery

    Performance artist Marni Kotak <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/marni-kotak-performance-a_n_1032365.html" target="_hplink">made headlines</a> earlier this year when she announced her plans to give birth inside a New York art gallery because it is the "highest form of art." With approximately 20 people in the room, she delivered baby Ajax in late October. Footage of the birth will be added to an upcoming exhibition at the Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn.

FOLLOW HUFFPOST PARENTS

With the steering wheel in one hand, and a video camera in the other, dad Zachary Russell kept driving as his wife Jennifer gave birth. The couple was racing down Highway 287 in Texas towards a birthi...
With the steering wheel in one hand, and a video camera in the other, dad Zachary Russell kept driving as his wife Jennifer gave birth. The couple was racing down Highway 287 in Texas towards a birthi...
 
 
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10:36 PM on 10/21/2012
I had my second child in the car as well. Happened very fast, my husband didn't pull over either because he didn't think it would happen that fast. We made it to the hospital about two minutes later.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drjekyll38
04:24 PM on 02/08/2012
He filmed his wife giving birth in their car. Now there's a man who couldn't possibly keep his eyes on the road! And in a few years, she gets to videotape him passing a kidney stone in the garage!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MissTake1989
Equal means equal, hypocrites.
06:52 AM on 01/28/2012
The men we have raised these days are such passive (insert insults here).

Put down the camera for once and actually DO something.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jamie Zupo
my babies ate my brains
05:28 PM on 02/03/2012
What should he do, exactly? It sounds like she was perfectly fine on her own (as was I, catching two of my own babies).
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CraigR
Born okay the first time
01:16 AM on 01/28/2012
What... he "filmed" it?? He actually "captured Jennifer on film?" I dunno...looks like a digital camera to me.
11:43 PM on 01/27/2012
wow. didnt see that comin
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tree S-B
Well, you know...
03:01 PM on 01/27/2012
holy smokes! That's scary and amazing. And I would not want to be the person who details that car.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
drjekyll38
04:26 PM on 02/08/2012
Let's just hope they give it a wash and shampoo the upholstery before Willow gets it on her Sweet 16!
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Knowbetter
An American in Texas
11:06 AM on 01/27/2012
Jeez.
01:38 AM on 01/27/2012
I'd love to know how this happened in a sitting position. Seems like there's not enough room to even pass gas!
04:37 PM on 01/26/2012
Yup, I gave birth in a car, almost twenty years ago in May, on the way to the hospital. My husband had to pull my jeans off because the baby's head was there at the first push. My father in law was driving (he'd had 3 heart operations), and I told him not to stop at the stop signs because my back kept falling into the empty space between the two seats. She (baby Caitie) came whooshing out in 3 steps, then my husband leaned over the front seat to catch her before she slid onto the floor. It was 1:30 in the morning, no traffic cops around, we kept on rolling, right up to emergency of hospital. Where J ripped off his shirt to wrap her, having no blankets handy. So we arrived him shirtless and me pantless, to be wrapped in hot blankets by the staff. My husband asked if he could cut the cord, when the nurse popped in with her kit. I was the midwife he said, I delivered her (well, caught her anyway). We could hardly sleep all night, giggling about how quickly she came - on a warm night, mind you, not -20, and she breathed and let out one little wah so we could see she was allright. What brought this on? Castor oil and situps....
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jenalan
Compassion is Revolution
07:50 PM on 01/26/2012
Wow! That's one of the best stories EVER! Congrats!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Denisehh3
redneckislandgirl
10:19 PM on 01/27/2012
@Jennifer Boire.......just having sex works faster, a natural process considering the sperm helps with dilation .......I was in labor 4 hours later.......had to head to the hospital asap.......and delivered 5 hours later.......
05:29 PM on 02/08/2012
yup that was part of the recipe too. They stripped the cervical plug in the doctor's office, and said, have sex at 8 pm, and take castor oil. I added the sit-ups on my sister-in-law's recommendation.
12:39 PM on 01/26/2012
I'm more offended that HuffPost put a disclaimer on this video. It is by no means graphic and if we can't as a society handle viewing the gift of life then we are in a sorry state.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BeanBoo
07:39 PM on 01/26/2012
I hate to break it to you but yeah, birth is graphic. I personally hate the sight of a freshly newborn baby with all that skin stuff wrinkled up on them... yuck!! I was glad they warned me that it was graphic.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Denisehh3
redneckislandgirl
10:27 PM on 01/27/2012
@bonvivanti.......Hmmmm.......while in the hospital as I was about to push, the nurse asked if I wanted a mirror......"are you kidding me?.......heck no, I'm trying to have my baby.......not scare it back inside.......that would totally gross me out".......said I.......

I'm inclined to think birth is a awesome miracle ,.......however it is not by any means a pretty sight to behold......
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Kingpleasure
Live for Pleasure
12:38 PM on 01/26/2012
Wow!... all I gotta say
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shortguy54
Short, balding, brilliant... (well, maybe not so)
12:32 PM on 01/26/2012
Going to have to throw out the car seat, though!
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BeanBoo
07:40 PM on 01/26/2012
Same thing I said. I also want to know if it's going to be listed in the carfax, lol!
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bluegnu63
Humor s/b wry, dry, and sly...
10:37 AM on 01/26/2012
Wow! What a gift to see something so beautiful. Loved mom and Dad's humor and expressions.:)
10:28 AM on 01/26/2012
You're driving and shooting a video of your wife in labor?

Are you crazy?

First, you have two distractions, and second, your wife needs your love and attention more than you need a video of her giving birth to your children.

If you want a video of the birth, hire a doula to help your wife with the birth while you shoot the video.
04:11 PM on 01/27/2012
A. He didn't have to watch the camera while he filmed. The article specifically said he was watching the road. And B. I'm sure she wanted a video of the birth as well.