A Cape Cod couple experienced a dramatic birth story when their daughter decided to make her grand entrance early. Rebecca and Danya Mahota were on their way to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth when Rebecca’s water broke about 26 minutes into the trip. With no time to waste, Danya quickly pulled over to the side of the road. “One contraction later, he had pulled over to the side of the road, I was already holding her head,” Rebecca recalled.
Realizing they couldn’t wait for an ambulance, the couple decided to deliver the baby right there on the side of Route 6. Danya, who had no medical training, did his best to remain calm and support his wife. “We’re gonna have to do this right here,” Rebecca said. With no other options, they proceeded with the impromptu delivery. Danya reached down and felt the top of his daughter’s head. “OK, baby, well, let’s just go slow and figure it out,” he reassured his wife.
In the passenger seat of their Land Rover, little Summer made her entrance into the world. She started crying, and everything seemed to be going well. However, the Mahotas knew they couldn’t stay on the side of the highway for long, so they made a decision that could only be described as quintessentially Massachusetts: they headed to a Dunkin’ parking lot to await first responders.
Once they finally arrived at the hospital, the couple realized that Rebecca’s phone was missing, along with Danya’s wedding ring. It seemed that the chaos of the unexpected birth had caused the ring to slip off Danya’s finger. Fortunately, they were able to find the phone using GPS tracking, but the ring proved to be more challenging. It took a few days, the help of friends, and a metal detector to locate the missing ring, which was found about eight feet away from where the phone was.
Reflecting on the experience, Rebecca called her husband “incredible” for keeping her and Summer safe during the unexpected birth. She described her daughter as a “showstopper” who had a different plan to enter the world. Despite the challenges they faced, the Mahotas were grateful that everything turned out well and that they now have an unforgettable birth story to share.
