University Police Officer John Noonan was involved in an unexpected birth at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ on Friday, September 6. While on his rounds with University Corporal Alfonso Acerra, Noonan assisted in the delivery of a 32-year-old woman’s baby.
According to Noonan, everything that afternoon was routine leading up to the event. “We were waiting outside for someone to come so we could bring them back here [campus], so in the mean time I had gone inside to see if there was a coffee machine,” said Noonan.
Noonan stated that as he entered the waiting room, he turned the corner to where the vending machines were and encountered a woman doubled over against one of the machines.
“I asked her what was wrong and she said she was in a lot of pain. So I went over to the receptionist, which was on the other side [of the waiting room] and said we have a woman over here and she really needs somebody to come help her,” said Noonan.
According to the University Police report, after Noonan notified the receptionist, he alerted Acerra about the situation and returned to the woman. The two officers attempted to get the woman to sit down but due to the amount of back pain she was experiencing they opted to hold her upright until the medical staff arrived. It was then that the woman advised the officers that she was having a miscarriage and Acerra noticed drops of blood on the floor beneath her.
Noonan was left with the woman and Acerra left to notify the receptionist that the woman was hemorrhaging.
It was at that point that Noonan heard the muffled sound of an infant crying, to which Noonan yelled to Acerra, “I hear a baby.” From that point on, everything sped up, according to Noonan.
“They brought a gurney out with the hospital staff but we couldn’t lay her down because we didn’t know where the baby’s head was, we didn’t know how far in the process we were at that point,” said Noonan.
The two officers held the woman’s legs up as she was rushed into the emergency room where the hospital staff then cut away her pants. Noonan stated, “…as the pants flew open the baby fell between the bed and my left leg and I picked the baby up. Later we found out that the baby was three pounds, but after I caught the baby I turned it over to a nurse who did what they had to do.” The hospital staff then presented the newborn baby boy to his mother.
The delivery took no more than three to four minutes. Because the process went so quickly, Noonan and other members of the police and hospital staffs believe the woman most likely gave birth in the waiting room. Acerra stated that there was a distinct wetness, like water breaking when he held the woman’s leg. Despite the obstacles, the next day Noonan found out that the baby and mother were both safe and doing well.
This isn’t the first time though that Noonan has assisted in delivering a baby. Back in the ‘70s early one Christmas morning, Noonan, while on patrol, was approached by a man whose wife was giving birth at their house and couldn’t make it to the hospital.
Although that incident was 40 years ago, Noonan states that the afterthoughts are still the same. “You know you don’t think at the time, you just react. But afterwards it’s what makes policemen be policemen. Its good things like that,” said Noonan.
Students at the university are amazed at the aid Noonan provided at a moment’s notice. Sophomore communication major, Tiffany Cowlidge, said, “I’m really glad that we have people like this who are a part of the police department. The way that they can stay so calm and make sure that everything is done as best they can make them vital and is something I think we forget too easy.”
Caleb Stupal, junior business and marketing major, said, “I can’t really imagine knowing what to do with something like that. It takes a special person to handle situations like that, because there are some people that can’t.” Stupal continued on to say that Noonan and Acerra really showcase what being a leader is supposed to be.
The University police officers are secure entities around campus who ensure students’ safety and wellbeing. While on their rounds they do not know what to expect. Yet as Noonan mentioned it’s the good things that occur that makes the job worthwhile. Noonan states, “Its experiences, you know it’s doing it for such a long time. You don’t want to say it’s routine but you have a feeling that when you go into it you have to adjust based off of the events that are taking place and you have to be grateful for the good things that do happen.”
