At Emerson Hospital - Father in Iraq shares son's birth via Skype and iPhone

Mary Wagner smiles after giving birth to Issac (above) while her husband Mark views his newborn son via Skype in Iraq. (below)

By Cindy Cantrell, Globe Correspondent

A Littleton father stationed in Iraq was able to participate in the birth of his son on March 10 through Skype at Emerson Hospital in Concord.

In the weeks leading up to her planned Caesarean section, Mary Wagner was granted permission by the hospital to share her delivery via the software application which enables voice and video calls over the Internet. Her husband, Mark Wagner, is an Air Force captain on a four-year assignment with Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford.

Mary's mother used an iPhone to capture the birth of 7-pound, 13-ounce Isaac at 8:24 a.m. Boston time, or 4:24 p.m. in Iraq. He was 19½ inches long.

This was Emerson Hospital's first Skyped delivery.

Mark met his son when he returned home last Sunday. He was also greeted by his 2½-year-old daughter, Grace, who was told she was going to the airport to pick up the Easter Bunny.

"We're very thankful to the staff at Emerson Hospital for letting us use Skype in the delivery room. It meant a lot to us to be able to share our son's birth 'together' even though we were 6,000 miles apart," Mary wrote in an e-mail. "Dr. [Avra] Jordano-Alter and the doctors and nurses that assisted with the delivery will always hold a special place in our hearts."