School nurse delivers teacher's baby

Specialties School

Published Nov 5, 2002

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http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1029teacherbirth29-ON.html

Kelly Melhart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Oct. 29, 2002 11:00 AM

EULESS, Texas - Teacher Rhonda Schafer gave students in her early childhood development class an unexpected lesson Monday when she gave birth to a daughter in her classroom in this Fort Worth suburb.

With little time to prepare - the baby was born about five minutes after the first sign of labor - Schafer got her students, all ages 3 and 4, out of the classroom and called for the school nurse.

The school nurse arrived at the classroom just in time to help Schafer as she gave birth to the baby behind her desk about 2:30 p.m.

"They wrapped her in a co-worker's sweater," Mast said. Teachers had gathered in the hall outside the classroom by the time Euless emergency medical workers arrived at 2:38 p.m., minutes after the birth, Euless Fire Department officials said.

"The medics were there in time to cut the cord," Fire Department spokeswoman Christine Cox said.

"It was a very nice, quiet environment, if you can imagine that at an elementary school," she said.

Mother and daughter were in "perfect health" at Baylor Medical Center in nearby Grapevine, Cox said.

Schafer declined to comment through a man who answered the telephone in her hospital room. Schafer also has two sons, including one who attends the same school, Bear Creek Elementary, Mast said.

Many at the school spent the afternoon celebrating. "It's very exciting," Mast said. "It's the first baby that's been delivered at Bear Creek Elementary