ctvwinnipeg.ca
Two police officers helped resuscitate a newborn on Sunday after a woman who didn't know she was pregnant suddenly gave birth to a baby in a toilet.
"I'm still in shock. I'm not supposed to have kids," says Heather Richard.
A day ago she didn't even know she was pregnant. On Sunday afternoon she came home in pain and went into the bathroom.
"It just fell out. At first I thought it was my intestines. I'm freaking out...but then it's a little boy," says Richard.
She started calling to her family outside.
"I guess she had the baby and it fell into the toilet and she was too shocked to do anything about it and she just started yelling to us," says Heather's brother Darrin.
Police were at the residence in the Flora Avenue and Andrews Street area to arrest the woman on outstanding warrants. They heard the noise and rushed into the washroom where the baby was unresponsive and in need of medical attention.
Officers began administering CPR and emergency services were called.
"I was thinking my nephew was going to die on me. All of a sudden police came to the door and save the baby and I was really thankful for that," says Darrin.
Heather also expressed gratitude for the officers' actions.
"Thank you. You saved my baby's life," says Heather.
Paramedics took baby Isaiah to hospital in critical condition with a skull fracture, likely from hitting the toilet. He's since been upgraded to stable condition, say police.
Heather had been told by doctors in the past that she was unable to have a baby and had already had three miscarriages. Isaiah weighs just over five pounds, says Heather.
CTV News has learned the officers credited with saving her baby's life first came to the house to talk to Heather about outstanding warrants for theft-related charges dating back a few years. Police say the warrants will be processed some time in the future.
Police also say the officers involved in saving the baby won't be available to talk because they work undercover and appearing publicly could jeopardize their work.
A police spokesman says he's sure the officers will remember the incident for some time.
"This will be the highlight in their careers, I'm sure," says Const. Jason Michalyshen.
- with a report from CTV's Kelly Dehn
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