Baby Boy Born Along Maryland Highway

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WJZ) – Baby can't wait, a newly-released 9-1-1 call highlights the panic of a couple forced to deliver their baby on the side of a major highway in Montgomery County.

As Gigi Barnett explains, dad and the 9-1-1 operator had to step in quickly.

Jacob Kenneth Nelson's entrance into the world was a fast one. At 3:30 a.m. Thursday Amanda and Jon Nelson left their Montgomery County house speeding to Shady Grove Hospital.

"By the time I got in the car I said to my husband you need to drive really fast," said Amanda Nelson, mother.

He did, but minutes later:

"Car starts dinging and I look up at the dash and the seatbelt light is on and I look over and she's taking her seatbelt off," said Jon Nelson.

Mom's water had just broke inside the car, so dad pulled over and dialed 9-1-1. They were right at the shady grove exit, not far from the hospital. All dad could do was coach and take instruction.

"You're doing great. Alright I'm going to give you some instruction. Stay with me ok...ok."

But Jacob was coming feet first.

"We determined it was a foot and it was blue. Finally one big push and Jacob was out."

Medics rushed the mom, dad and baby to the hospital where doctors gave Jacob a clean bill of health.

"It was an adrenaline rush. I was just trying to do the right thing at the right time and, then afterwards all of the anxiety hit me when I started thinking of all the things that could have gone wrong," said Jon.

Jon Nelson is a helicopter mechanic, boy scout leader and a military veteran. He says none of those positions ever prepared him to deliver his baby on the side of the road.

Both mom and dad say they are grateful for the quick-thinking of the 9-1-1 operator.