Baby born on plane en route to Logan
(WBZ-TV)
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
It was already a packed flight from Amsterdam to Boston, but passengers and crew were more than happy to make room for one extra person this morning when a Ugandan woman gave birth to a baby girl.
Two doctors aboard Northwest Airlines flight 59 sprang into action when the call came across the Boeing 757's public address system for a medical emergency. The physicians found a woman 8-1/2 months pregnant and moaning with severe abdominal pain. She was obviously in labor and the child's head had already crowned, according to the doctors.
As the plane cruised somewhere over Canada, the doctors laid the woman across a row of seats in coach class while a husband and wife from Danvers held up a blanket to create a makeshift delivery room. Flight attendants grabbed a medical bag and handed the doctors surgical gloves, a clamp, and scissors. At about 9 a.m., the woman gave birth to a 6-1/2 pound baby girl she named Sasha.
"She looked perfect," said Dr. Paresh Thakkar, a family physician from Methuen. "She opened her eyes and was very happy. She was so calm, she didn't cry at all."
Thakkar was assisted by Dr. Natarajan Raman, a radiology oncologist from Minneapolis. They snipped and clamped the umbilical cord and handed the girl to her mother. The entire plane burst into applause.
When the flight landed at Logan International Airport at 10:30 a.m., mother and daughter were whisked by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they are reported to be doing well.
Customs officials said that Sasha was deemed a Canadian citizen, because she was born over Canadian airspace. The name of the mother was not released.
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I am so happy that Sasha turned out to be a happy and healthy baby! Congratulations!
Heaven forbid anyone stay at home when 8.5 months pregnant. how utterly absurd and selfish. maybe she is related to the couple in dracut who had to drive 35 miles to a boston hospital....
Interesting
i thought people in their third trimester weren't allowed to travel on planes w/out a dr's permission...especially this close to their due date and on such a long flight.
A taxi driver couldn't have done this better! Congratulations to mother, baby and their family!
Where will the birth certificate say Sasha was born? Boeing 757 over the Atlantic?
Cheers & Congrats to the Family!
I don't wanna be judgmental but WHAT was an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman doing on a PLANE, transatlantic nonetheless?? I'm glad it worked out ok!
Congratulations and happy it had a happy ending ... but why did they let an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman on a plane? I thought there were rules against that? Just curious ....
isn't flying harmful at after a certain stage. i'm pretty sure 8 1/2 months is past that stage
Great Story!
Thanks goes to the DRs too, Safe and Happy New Year to all!
Whhy is this person flyinh at 8.5 months pregnant?
I'd be curious to see if Delta charged a fee for using their blanket.
Congrats to the parents! And a warm applause for the doctors on board who didn't hesistate to help in such a joyous occasion!!!
I don't know why but reading this made me cry.
God's providence is awesome! And, miracles still happen. How serendipitous that two doctors were aboard to help Sasha enter the world properly. This story gives me hope for 2009. Happy New Year!
beautiful story.
In other news...
* Northwest prepared a bill for the one-way airfare of the new child and an invoice for for the blankets and pillows used.
*The TSA has requested Immigration deport the child for illegal immigration without paperwork.
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.
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JUST KIDDING! :)
How cute! Now that Ugandan woman has a Canadian baby so she can try to move to Canada from Uganda!
Women who are 8 1/2 months pregnant aren't supposed to fly for this very reason. It's pretty obvious there was an ulterior motive to this.
Although Uganda is in such bad shape, she's probably justified in doing so and trying to seek asylum.
Another Ted Kennedy Permanant Resident with an Anchor Baby. Teddy, that is your pathetic legacy.
"Customs officials said that Sasha was deemed a Canadian citizen, because she was born over Canadian airspace. The name of the mother was not released. "
For real? This can't be how they determine it...
Score one for the community physicians. Good job, Dr. Thakkar!
It is nice to see good things in the news for a change. Congratulations!
go back to uganda with your anchor baby
what a moron. why does one board a plane 8 1/2 months pregnant? isn't that against the law?
I have to wonder if this was done intentionally so the baby would be Canadian or US citizen. Who flies when they are 8.5 months pregnant, especially from Uganda to Amsterdam to U.S.? Good to hear the baby is healthy and the mother is fine, however I am curious about the motives.
Thats cool I guess
I thought you could not fly after a certain point in pregnancy.
Airlines make clear that women in their third-trimester of pregnancy should not travel.
How rude that this woman would disregard the dangers and inconveniences she has caused others.
I hope she is told she can never fly that airline, again.
That whole trip from Uganda to have her baby born here, and she gets a Canadian kid instead.
Which country will she be a citizen of?
And she's Canadian, so all she has to do is get across the northern border to receive free healthcare.
While I am pleased to hear the baby is healthy and the mom and child are doing well, isn't anyone concerned that this mother went against all medical advice and traveled on an airplane so late in her pregnancy?
Very cool...congratulations to mom and baby!!
wow--i am surprised they let her fly so late into pregnancy....welcome sasha!
I'm glad everything worked out well and congrats to the parents!!!!
But, no first class passengers could give up their seats for a bit more comfortable experience and private??????
Does she have health care to pay for the ambulance to Mass General and the daily rate of about $1,000? I'm very happy Mother and baby are doing fine but why sent them to the hospital after the fact?
Not to be cynical...but I know many Int'l flight attendants who say African women do this all the time to gain citizenship for their child. They do it in the UK all the time. Flying at 8.5 months smacks of this type of thing. How did this women get on the plane?
Such acrimony and antipathy over the fact the woman was flying to USA while 8.5 months pregnant. Lighten up people! We do not know the circumstances and reasons why she was flying over here while in that state of health. To quote a former Boston Celtics coach "The negativity in this town sucks"!
My God, there sure are a lot of cranky people in the world.
That's Awesome!!
Great job Doctors!!!
I am sure that Delta must have charged her for an extra plane ticket upon landing since the new passenger was born en route!
congrats to the MOM!
wish these type of stories would mention the bravery, resourcefulness, hard work, etc., of the MOTHER!
Ouch, now she has to live with being Canadian the rest of her life!
Wasn't Gov. Palin at roughly the same stage when she flew on a commercial plane from a conference in Texas back to Alaska, in her most recent pregnancy?
to all that have responded, birth is a miracle in itself! Why is anybody criticizing. As long as baby and mother is healthy God bless them and happy New year.
There was a time when a baby born en route would receive free passage on that route for life... does that still hold true, or was it all just another myth?
two amazing surprising miracles, a child is born and there are a lot of racists in boston
She could have very well lied about how far along she was. How would people know that she was 8 1/2 month pregnant while checking her in? A big coat could cover easily
8.5 months pregnant and on a transatlantic flight?
I hope the baby grows up to be smarter than her mother.
my god, the negativity in this section! people, a healthy baby was born, that's good news! so many people want to ASSume things. the flights was from Amsterdam, the Netherlands has a high population of legal African immigrants; isn't it possible that the mother is a legal citizen of the Netherlands but of Ugandan descent who was just traveling to the US for reasons other than trying to create an "anchor baby"? yeah, maybe she shouldn't have been flying so close to her due date, but we don't know the reasons why she did, so it's ridiculous to judge w/o the facts.
lighten up folks,
fokks
I have flown while very late in pregnancy. I checked with the airline and found that up to 4 weeks before birth, I could fly without any doctor's note. After that, I would need a doctor's note in order to fly.
Its probably free health care given by Mass General. I'm glad the globe is running there "special report".
Get it right Boston Globe - Partners is not the problem with Healthcare...
I just love when the xenophobes and racists come crawling out of the woodwork. For all you natural born American citizens who have a problem with this--have you not realized your citizenship and privileged life is simply based on luck? Everyone, regardless of where they are born, deserve the best the world has to offer. Why shouldn't Sasha's mom try to come to the US to have her baby? Sasha deserves every benefit you and I have. So do Sasha's relatives back in Uganda.
Lets not forget SARAH PALIN almost gave birth on a plane too
Undoubtedly, a new child is wonderful. However, while it is unclear from the story about the mother's intention to fly at more than eight months pregnant, it is clear that by taking a transatlantic flight she chose to engage in an activity that endangered both her life and the life of her child. Also, who would be responsible and/or liable if something happened to the mother or child aboard this flight?
Great Job, I am glad that both mother and daughter are doing fine. At least she was not in labor when she boarded the flight like the Republican vice presidential candidate was for her son.
This is a wonderful story with, thankfully, a happy ending. But what if there were no doctors on board, and if this woman required a c-section or the mother/baby needed life-saving medical treatment? She was very lucky that there were 2 doctors on board. Bottom line: Northwest never should have let an 8.5 months pregnant woman board this plane, for the sake of both the woman's and the baby's health. Let's hope there's an investigation into how this happened.
I am a travel agent for 20 years. The 8.5months pregnant passengers has restrictions for both domestic and international flights. The mother might have special reason or doctor's letter in order to take the flight. However no matter what, I am happy for them. I wish I was there to share this experience. The mother and the baby gave happiness to many passengers and Northwest airline staffs. They will not forget about this special experience.
If this is vacation visit to US, the baby needs to buy her returning ticket to Amsterdam and valid passport....call your travel agency!
Ha ha probably she wanted to give birth ine the USA. And i think that was the reason to get here in 8,5 month pregnancy. Oops her child doesn't receive USA citizenship.
Cheers!
8.5 months pregnant? What the hell was she thinking? I think that is extremely irresponsible. What could possibly on this Earth could be more important than the birth of your child? For the safety of the child, she should have stayed in Amsterdam. I don't know what to think of this story. As a father, I would be extremely pissed if my wife was on a plane after 6 months.
Congratulations to mother and daughter and best wishes to Dr. Thakkar and Dr. Raman!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Hey if palin could travel while in labor...all the way from Texas to a community hospital in Alaska's back and beyond with a high risk pregnancy.. ok not something to aspire to
some of you people of clueless she was on a flight head to the united states to have her baby in the United States, this is known in immigration terms as an anchor baby
Wonder is she wanted the child to be born in the US so the baby is a US citizen?
It's possible she didn't know how far along she is, happens not infrequently, especially in places without alot of prenatal care.
It racist to get upset when people purposely violate or evades the laws of the United States. Seriously we created immigration laws for a reason and you people don't care when they are broken. Its not racist to want our countries law obeyed. This process is so common it has a name. Why would you risk your child health by flighing. Come on people. I don't blame her I wouldnt want my child growing up in Uganda either. My question is how did she get a visa
For goodness sake. Has all this political correctness really benefited society? NO! This woman had to know she would give birth either in the air or on the ground. Her only regret will be that the baby isn't a U.S. citizen so she can get EVERYTHING free. If you people deny that many milk the system then you need to smoke another. Please! Half my husband's loser family does it and they've been here 80 years! New baby welcome to: "It's free, just sue land". My ancestors came on the Mayflower (proven) and fought for the Union so I feel okay saying, "Get a job, pay your way!" Signed, Middle Class Taxpayer who shoulders the bourden of the"entitled ones". I'm poor if I don't have cable or a Playstation! Waaaah!!!!
Anchor Baby...clear and simple. The US Taxpayers have just forked over the cost of this moronic woman's hospital bills. She's an idiot for flying at 8.5 months. And, I garuntee that she will find some way to get that baby to be a US citizen. When you can get welfare, housing and all your other living expenses paid for, why wouldn't you try to have your baby here?
This is GREAT news. Nothing wrong with this, why do all these haters come on here? Do they have nothing better to do? Do they not have their own lives to criticize? How poor that the low side of humanity has to throw shade over everything good. And as for the divine "miracle" of two doctors being onboard, aparently Michele has never flown when a medical emergency is called out on the system - odds are HIGH that there will be someone, and I have never seen an announcement go unanswered.
Congrats to the new Canadian citizen. Just don't grow up loving the Maple Laffs or the Habs.
Hey Rez - your family IMMIGRATED to this country, in other words? That is what you're saying. Mine also came over on the Mayflower, and I am ashamed at all of us who cry out that everyone AFTER is an immigrant. your ancestors and mine came here just as "illegally" as those do who come here today. Only difference is, we slaughtered and took over, they just try to make a living within all the confusing little societal traps that we have put in their way.
And as for the mom who gave birth, this is nothing less than a great event. Lets be happy for her. And the baby. And give thanks to the two doctors who did a great job, as well as the flight crew.
Ugandian woman, 8.5 months preggars, looking to anchor herself and the baby in the US, and take advantage of all the freebies the system will give her. Great....the land of the free(bies) for all who want to just come in and take, take, take, take and manipulate the system....
Did anyone see her on the TV...she was shying away from the camera probably not a word of English in her vocabulary... but come on in and let the taxpayers pay for you and yours while you do nothing to contribute to our society. My healthcare bill is going up in January, but hey, let me pay for your medical bills as well.
There are currently an estimated 940,000 people living with HIV in Uganda, and a further 1.2 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS.
How do we know the mother and child are healthy?
It is great that the baby is healthy, but it is a 100% anchor baby. The taxpayer will be paying for this baby. Where is the father? Did Kunta Kinte miss the flight while out hunting zebra?
I don't know what that mother was thinking but I think Sarah Palin did the same thing with the birth of Trigg. In fact after her water had broken, she flew to from Texas to Alaska and then drove 2 hours so she could have that baby in her local hospital. My point is there are people dumber than this woman she she could have been president.
Uniquely 'born is space', Sasha wishing a spacious heart and mind and future whether deemed Canadian, American or Ugandan.
Congratulations and happy new year to mother, baby and the doctors and other passengers who assisted! A beautiful new year story.
To my vituperative fellow Bostonians: happy new year to you too! And unless you are American Indians, your ancestors were immigrants too, and you are the (grand, great-grand, or great-great-great-grand) children of immigrants, so have a little empathy. What do you or any of us know of this woman's circumstances or reasons for flying? Perhaps she is a legal resident of the US who visited relatives for the holidays and was flying back HOME to Boston when Sasha decided to make an early appearance. There are no direct flights from Uganda to the US so she would have to go through AMS, LHR or CDG
all I gotta say is...THANK GOD SHE WAS BORN OVER CANADA....
and I'm sure most of you know why I feel this way!
Something good published about Methuen! Yeah!
People who object to anyone trying to subvert immigration law is NOT racist. It's a dumbass who doesn't realize that she was trying to get US citizenship for her baby. America needs to change the law regarding birthright citizenship. France, Spain, Italy, Ireland don't recognize birthright citizenship and Ireland had passed it in 2004 because of immigration problems.
I thought Canadian Law was quite different than in the US and that being born on Canadian soil (or airspace) did not automatically make you a Canadian citizen. Does anyone know the law up there?
Congrats to the mom on the birth of a healthy baby girl!
Wow, there are some really nasty people in here. This is really the venue you're going to choose to spout your xenophobic viewpoints about immigration?
For those who take issue with the legality of a woman traveling in late-stage pregnancy: there is no such restriction, at least as far as my company is concerned (I work for a major international carrier based in the U.S.). Northwest has no such restriction on traveling while pregnant, either. And you may even be surprised to find that the FAA has no such blanket restriction on pilots who are pregnant. Indeed, you may even find yourself to be on a flight with a captain in her 9th month.
You know, I'm really saddened by the cynical and hateful tone of some of these comments. A healthy child was born to a healthy mother- and you are speculating about the mother's ulterior motives for flying while pregnant and the immigration status of the child. I want to say shame on you for being so small-minded, but moreso, I am filled with pity for the empty soul that not only thinks in such a hateful way, but feels compelled to publish it. I hope happiness comes to you in a way that can help you rise above such an attitude toward your fellow mankind. May 2009 be bright and full of joy to all.
One more thing: people coming to the U.S. to have their children is nothing new. It happens all the time with women from all over the world, not just Uganda. And I think it's a wonderful thing.
I am so sick of the "we're all immigrants" argument. It's absurd and totally misses the point. When the mayflower landed there was no such thing as welfare. Immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island in the 1800s had to make their own way. There were no handouts or taxes that provided freebies. No one is arguing that immigration is bad or wrong. Instead, reasonable, logical people oppose people coming into the country, sponging off the system and not contributing anyting.
To the person who thinks the U.S. taxpayer is footing the hospital bills for Sasha and her mother: this is wrong. Northwest picks up the tab. It's a liability issue. For any medical incident that happens on board an aircraft or in an airline's facilities, the airline pays. The government has nothing to do with it.
Wow, what a bunch of downers. Even a feel good story can't make you feel good. Let me get this straight.....on the basis of two inches of print space you have accused, tried and convicted this mother of negligence, malfeasance and high drama. For two minutes of this frightful year, feel happy for another human being. The world today is fraught with violence, disease, racism and apathy. We, by the way, have contributed in great volume to the violence, and ironically, the apathy, that afflicts this world. If the only thing that can get you to respond in rightous anger is a woman giving birth on an airplane, you have the most virulent form of moral atrophy - that which only triggers when you believe your own interests to be endangered rather than those of any of your brothers and sisters. Good luck to you. God knows when the purported educated elite of the world express themselves as most of you have, we have little to hope for as citizens of the world. Peace.
Yep, I agree with Peace 2009. Unless you are a full blooded Indian that was related to the original people who were here when the Pilgrims showed up way back when, then you are an immigrant too. I'm saying this and one of my ancestors came on the Mayflower. The whole problem about immigration is that some US citizen take entitlement to seriously. It's the luck of the draw where you are born, and honest, we are all the same animal species, whatever our nationality is.
I think this birth will be registered in the U.S., in the city where the mother and child disembarked -- Boston. Whether Canada will grant citizenship is another issue, but I'm pretty sure this child will have a U.S. birth certificate. See MGL c.46 s.7A.
Concerned4america - How do we know you are healthy? Exactly!
As many have said, we don't know the circumstances and the whole facts to judge. I just know that if this woman were from England or some country in Europe, there wouldn't be some many racist comments.
I agree with Peace2009 - wonderful story to start the new year...even if it is a tad familiar sounding. Except in the other story the mother's name was Mary and she was riding a donkey and something about traveling afar and spending the night in a manger ... this sound familiar to anybody?
It is interesting: both those doctors are originally from India and they are not related! And the plane was from Amsterdam not India!
USA "land of the freebies" LOL!!
There are far more "freebies" in the Netherlands ...
Ones race,color,creed,etc.. is irrelevant. One becomes relevant when they break the law. To the idiot who said "we're all immigrants", keep in mind that there is a big difference between those who immigrate legally and those who don't. I have no control over what the Europeans from 400 years ago did when they arrived here. What we have control over now is how best to maintain a productive society. There has never been a successful country on earth that didn't control the in-flow of new citizens. I work hard for my money, pay my taxes and contribute to society. I expect every one else to make an honest effort to do the same.
Apperntly according to news in amsterdam, she will be getting free travel for life, mother and baby. And the mother who lived in the netherlands had special permission to fly. This is from the news in Amsterdam
This is not the first time a very pregnant woman tried to get to the USA to make their kid a US citizen.The welfare system in Canada is even better.
It amazes me how little people know about pregnancy nowadays (not that it stops anyone from judging). There is nothing wrong with flying while "8.5 months" pregnant (wonder how many weeks that was). Every airline has different restrictions, most only require a doctor's note if you plan on flying very close to your due date. I flew to a wedding at 36 weeks (about 8 months), and had no problems. Maybe some of you should learn the actual rules before you go calling this woman an idiot and accusing her of endangering her child's life.
in asia if you have a baby on the plane it's the airline's country -Northwest is a US company so the baby may be american citizen
Going forward, EVERY foreign female national of child bearing age visiting the USA must be subjected to an e.p.t. Pregnancy Test before they board a plane. This should be enforced the same way the Bush Administration mandated the HPV Vaccine (Gardasil) on immigrants applying to become citizens in July 2008.
Northwest/delta aircraft is US territory, so according the law the child is a US citizen.
Welcome, Baby Sasha.
Congrats, Mom.
And nice work, Dr Thakkar, Dr Raman, flight crew, EMT's, air traffic controllers and everyone else who had a hand in this!
What a silly idea that the country the plane was flying over determines the baby's nationality. Does that mean if the plane was exactly between England and Iceland that she could choose her nationality or that she would be a citizen of Atlantus.
I believe international law states that the nationality of the carrier (Northwest is an American carrier) determines the baby's nationality.
Goodness! Some ignorant posters on this thread. Northwest is not really a U.S carrier anymore!!! Recession....It belongs to KLM now secretly and thus a Dutch carrier. Carrier or no carrier, it's where you were born that makes you a citizen but don't tell that to the British. #96 Ric, the Canadian welfare system is WORSE. No foodstamps or WIC program here. That baby and mom will get $275 a month plus their rent paid up to $850/mo. With cable and phone=$98/mo, you are screwed! I once used to be on that. #96 and 99 FYI, Sasha's mom is already a U.S citizen from Uganda so she was not "coming to have a baby in Boston" for citizenship purposes. #92, India has the BEST DOCS in the world. Canada needs to help them stop driving cabs and take these expensive exams. Many are here in Toronto.
Isn't Sarah Palin's baby called "TRIG" and not "TRIP"????
The trip is the grandson right??
So, in other words when Sasha was born in Canadian airspace, she's automatically a Canadian Citizen? Her birth address please! OR, she never set "foot" on any soil until she reached Boston! Does THAT make her an American? The Church and these anti-abortionists say, life begins at conception, so, if Sasha was conceived in Uganda, SHE would be Ugandan!! Right? There seems to be a double standard here. When does LIFE really begin? If a father was African and the mother an American, the child was conceived in Africa, but born elsewhere, he should still he African like his father!
What a vile desecration of a beautiful Russian name.
I don't understand any of the venomous posts here. Can't you just be happy that it was a joyful news item. No one died ... the plane didn't crash ... Instead, 120+ people worked together like caring human beings and brought a new life into the world - safely. All the passengers on the plane burst into applause when it was over. So what's wrong with all of you?
Grow a limbic system and an Anterior Cingulate Cortex and move beyond cave man status. Human beings are meant to have empathy and the ability to care and share. Otherwise, go back to your caves and leave humanity alone.
that's so sweet. but the poor kid, probably had altitude sickness or something, i mean, being 30000 feet above where you're supossed to be when giving birth, wow. i bet alot of ear popping happened with that girl. sweet story.
#105, WHO CARES ANYMORE? FOR ALL I CARE, THE KID IS GONNA HAVE 3 PASSPORTS BY THE TIME THE MOM HAS APPLIED FOR A U.S PASSPORT FOR HER AS ANGELINA JOLIE DID THE NAMIBIAN GIRL SHILOH. THEN SHE CAN COME TO NOVA SCOTIA AMD GET THE CANADIAN ONE SINCE THE DELIVERY HAPPENED ABOVE HALIFAX. THE FATHER CAN ALSO ADD A UGANDAN ONE TOO. ALL MY KIDS WERE BORN IN AMERICA , THEIR FATHER AFRICAN AND I'M CANADIAN. CRAP HAPPENS! MULTIPLE PASSPORTS ARE CARRIED ALL OVER THESE DAYS.
Neither the Airline nor the Mother nor the officials on the ground in Boston can make the determination the child is a Canadian, that is up to the Canadian government, as the plane was en route from Amsterdam and had not yet landed the plane was still technically territory of the netherlands, not the US or Canada, so the birth would have been in the netherlandes as that country does not grant automatic citizenship then the child is in reality a citizen of Uganda, not Canada Eh?
In New Zealand for example, a country far, far more egalitarian than the US, it is illegal for a pregnant woman to come into the country with the intention of giving birth. NZ like the US does grant citizenship to children born in the country to non-citizens. So be careful before labeling those who oppose those non-Americans who take advantage of our system "racist and xenophobe."
Thank you President Elect Obama for the baby. Bush would never let this kind of a thing happen !
Lots of people here are sore about this - maybe they are the ones whose taxes cover all the expenses.
The ones who are happy - I guess they didn't think about that aspect.
#112, What's Obama got to do with this? He didn't give the kid U.S citizenship YET? Read all the posts above and see what's going on. I'm at 103, 104 and 109 and work as a Journalist now. I called the Boston media wires and AP who confirmed that mom is indeed an Ugandan born American and Canada WANTS this baby bad. The kid's a PR dream here for the government tourism greedy folks. It's big news up here!!! If that plane were to land here, the kid would have been bombarded by papparazzi. As soon as we heard they were cruising our airspace here, my shameless newsroom was ready to head to the nearest landing airport! LOL!
The child may possibly be a US citizen, since the birth took place on Northwest Airline, which is registered in the United States.
Regarding Sarah Palin's case...
She was NOT in labor...her water had broken. With my second baby my water was broken for over 30 hours prior to going into labor. Not an ideal situation to be sure...but also not uncommon.
Then beyond that...try and put yourself in her shoes. She was about 32 weeks pregnant if I recall correctly...and her water broke. Sure, she could have stayed in Texas if she had wanted...but she would have not known the Drs. who would have been caring for her, and likely would have been dealing with an extended NICU stay for her baby thousands of miles away from her home. I think that if she had a previous history of having average length labors, it was perfectly reasonable for her to get on a plane (that had a layover in Washington--a chance to get off if labor had picked up) and attempt to get home before giving birth.
I am totally blown away by the rude comments about the child being born Canadian. I would be ashamed of myself or anyone else I knew if they spoke of other people like that. Very uneducated and this mentality is the reason why we have a huge racism problem in this world.
interesting views here ranging from the plainly hateful, ignorant and clueless to the humane, happy, and globally schooled. I am Ugandan happily living in Uganda, i have visited the US before and i must add without an iota of doubt its a far more advanced/developed country than Uganda. But Guess what? i was more than happy/relieved to return to Uganda after my studies in the states....... the point is not all Ugandans and Africans for that matter are so interested in migrating to the US.. interestingly i know of many Americans that have stayed here beyond their expatriate contracts and gone ahead to even apply for Ugandan citizenship, So lets leave the issue of whether Sasha's Mom was up to no good to the law enforcement gurus of Boston.
Meanwhile Congratulations to Mom, the doctors, the crew and all passengers
For all of you who are wondering why a woman over 8 months pregnant would get on a plane? Well, it is called "Anchor Baby." For those of you who do not know what an Anchor Baby is, then you should do a search for that term on the Internet.
After reading some of these comments I bet teh mother is glad her daughter is a Canadian citizen, it sounds to me like not all Americans are so welcoming.
Welcome to the world Sasha and you and your mother are more than Welcome in Canada.
The ignorance of some of the posts is astounding. 1) Pregnancy is not an illness. There's nothing "wrong" or "dangerous" with a woman flying at 8.5 months who's had a normal, healthy pregnancy. 2) As for the immigration remarks, I don't know where to begin and I'm not going to start off feeding that negativity in 2009. It's good to see that there are people here that recognize this planet and it's land was gifted to us all, without regard to the illusion of race.
Blessings to the mom, baby & the rest of the family!
#119 and 120, the US is where we welcome the tired, poor, huddled masses AND the ignorant cusses who breath venom about people they deem lesser quality immigrants. My guess (only a guess because we don't know) is that the woman had some very important business here in the US. I've been pg twice and it's no fun at 8.5 months. Maybe she was desperate to leave Uganda. Article didn't mention the dad. Maybe she's just trying to make a better life for her kid. I know that's what my grandparents did in the early part of the 20th century. My husband's grandparents too. She couldn't have picked two better countries to make a new start in. Who knows, kid could be President some day.