HEROIC BIRTH

Little did Kristin Geffre know when she told her husband about wanting an “awesome birth story” that her wish would come true in a dramatic way just a day later.

It’s one where Geffre’s mother, Cindy Warren of Owatonna, rolled up her sleeves and delivered the baby on the bathroom floor in the family’s Rosemount home minutes before paramedics arrived. And to top things off, it happened with a real scare.

Colton Andrew Geffre came into this world as a breech baby, with feet first.

“I was a little panicked,” Warren admitted. “I’m thinking something could go wrong, and we just need to get this baby out. I was like holy smokes, all of a sudden, a foot pops out,” she said in describing the delivery.

Nurses at the hospital later told Geffre that this birth is “one for the history books,” pointing out that not many give birth to a breech baby at home.

Warren referred to it as a “heroic story of birth.”

“It’s still crazy… feels like it’s part of a movie. You don’t hear too many stories like that,” said Geffre, a 2009 graduate of Owatonna High School. 

On Feb. 7, Geffre had a doctor’s appointment in the morning. A heartbeat was detected, and there were no indications of labor.

“The doctor said the head was down and everything looked great,” Geffre said.

She went back home with no worries as her third child wasn’t due until Feb. 13.

Just the previous day, Geffre commented to her husband about wanting a unique birth story. When asked what she had in mind, she thought maybe some sort of fast labor on the side of the road. Never did she expect it to happen in her house.

By 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, Geffre began having strong contractions. She called her mother, who was at home in Owatonna about 60 miles away. Warren said her daughter had no real sense of urgency, and in fact commented that she would hate for her to come if nothing happened.

Warren decided to come anyway.

“I was kind of in a rush, but I took my time,” Warren said.

Around 7:15 p.m., Geffre’s water broke.

“All the sudden I felt a pop and went into the bathroom,” Geffre said.

Realizing there was no way she would make it to the hospital, Geffre’s husband, Eric, called 911 and a dispatcher provided him with tips on what to do.

Warren arrived at the house at 7:30 p.m. only to find all the commotion going on in the bathroom. Eric had placed some towels on the floor.

Call it grandmotherly instinct or whatever you want, Warren kicked into action. Though she has no medical training, Warren hopped down on the floor and began delivering the baby.

“Typically, I’m not very good with that kind of stuff,” said Warren. “Something put me into that mode. It was just instinct that this is what we had to do. There was no time to second guess or think differently.”

Within minutes of arriving at the house and before paramedics arrived, Warren brought her 8-pound, 2-ounce grandson into the world.

“We heard the sirens, and he was born,” Warren said. “I never thought I would deliver a baby.”

Warren described her daughter as being “pretty calm” throughout the short delivery. “Maybe a little shock,” mom added.

Colton was delivered within seven minutes from the time the 911 call had been placed and emergency personnel arrived.

“It’s the fastest delivery I’ve ever experienced,” said Geffre.

Added Warren, “Luckily, he came out very easy. It was like a snake slithering out. She pushed, and he slid out into my hands. It was really amazing.”

Warren panicked momentarily when the baby didn’t cry initially after coming out.

“We tickled him to get him going,” she said.

Added Geffre, “It was very scary. I was relieved when he started to cry.”

By this time, the paramedics arrived in the house, and they cut the umbilical cord.

Geffre and the baby were transported by ambulance to United Hospital in St. Paul where they stayed for two nights. Dad also rode in the ambulance while Warren stayed back with the couple’s two other small children, Ella, 4, and Amelia, 2.

For the record, Amelia was in bed sleeping during the ordeal, while Ella was on the couch watching TV.

Once the ambulance left, Warren had a chance to reflect on what happened.

“After it was done, I decompressed and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, what just happened,’” she said. “It’s one thing to deliver a baby, but when it’s your own grandchild. I’m so happy that I was there to be a part of it.”

Warren is amazed everything went as well as it did, especially considering that most breech babies are delivered by emergency C-Section.

“You start to think about all the things that could go wrong,” Warren said. “I’m just thankful that everything is great.”

Geffre credits her mother for being “super calm” throughout the delivery. Her husband wasn’t as much, she added.

Warren shared how she believes how somebody was looking out for Colton. “He has an angel watching over him,” she said.

She is also excited about the instant connection she made at birth with her grandson.

“It’s a great feeling knowing you brought a baby into the world, especially when it’s a grandchild. There will always be a special bond,” Warren says. “When he gets older, what a great story to tell him.”

Geffre said, “I couldn’t be happier that she was able to deliver one of the grandkids.”

As for any future deliveries, Geffre was quick to say, “This is it. Definitely after this experience, we are definitely done.”

And grandma knows one thing after helping with her grandson’s birth.

“I’m not going into the profession of delivering babies,” she said.