By Susan Misur
The New Haven Register Staff
NORTH BRANFORD, Conn. — Natalia Cuozzo was past her due date, and was going to be induced Friday morning to give birth to her son, but baby Nicholas Aleksander couldn’t wait that long.
Instead, he came into the world Thursday night, much to the surprise of his parents, who had no time to get to the hospital, and to 911 dispatcher Justin Infantino, who talked the couple through the birth over the phone.
Natalia Cuozzo’s husband, Gary Cuozzo, called 911 about 9:15 p.m. after realizing his wife was having contractions.
“I had bad cramps and said, ‘This baby’s coming now,’” said Natalia Cuozzo, 40. Nicholas is her first child.
Gary Cuozzo, 40, said he called 911, reached Infantino at the North Branford police station to ask for an ambulance, and carried his wife to the bathroom floor, where she laid down on a towel. But soon, he could see the baby’s head emerging and called Infantino again, pleading with him to send emergency authorities quickly.
Infantino stayed on the line with a panicked Gary Cuozzo, who soon asked for help when he realized the baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck.
“I had to pull it pretty good to get him untangled. And then he just came out into my hands. It was scary,” Gary Cuozzo said.
But the baby wasn’t moving. So Infantino, 35, told Cuozzo to wipe the baby’s mouth with a towel and turn him over before patting his back.
“As soon as I heard him start crying, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief,” said Infantino, who has been a dispatcher in North Branford for about two years, worked before that as a dispatcher in Branford and is also an emergency medical technician.
The Cuozzos and their son were then taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Infantino said having three daughters of his own helped him stay composed and encourage Gary Cuozzo to remain calm. He added that his dispatcher and EMT training also prepared him to know what to do in this type of situation.
“You’re prepared for it, but you get used to routine calls, like car accidents and burglar alarms. And all of a sudden you get this call,” he said. “When I finally hung up, it was so exciting, especially having three of my own and now someone else is having one. You embrace the moment and enjoy it.”
Police Chief Matthew Canelli said it’s rare a dispatcher has to guide parents through a birth over the phone.
“He did a tremendous job. All the training here and his medical training paid off. I’m proud of him,” Canelli said.
Natalia Cuozzo said she’s “shocked” at the drama that unfolded, but is “elated” her son was born healthy at 21 inches and 7 pounds, 8.5 ounces.
“He’s definitely a miracle baby,” she said.
Copyright 2010 ProQuest Information and Learning
All Rights Reserved
ProQuest SuperText
Copyright 2010 Journal Register Co.