By VICKI WATERHOUSE
No one can dispute the fact that Jessica Ann Gibson is a baby-on-the-go after being born on Maungatapu Bridge while her parent's car was still moving.
At 1.15am yesterday morning, Jessica made her entrance into the world in the front passenger seat of her parents' car.
Jessica's mother, Rachel, began having major contractions at 11.30pm on Tuesday night, but the time it took to get from Papamoa to Tauranga Hospital proved too long.
"We thought we had plenty of time but no, she was making her grand entrance," Mrs Gibson said.
Mrs Gibson provided a commentary to her husband, Marc, as they drove, keeping him informed along the way as he navigated through the traffic in the hope they would make it.
"We were only about two minutes from home and I said to him 'the waters have broken', and we got to Baypark and I said I could feel the head coming down," she said. "I reached down and felt the head and just grabbed it and pulled it out and [Marc] looked over and said 'oh my God, that didn't just happen'."
Mrs Gibson said she did some basic checks to make sure her newborn was all right when she was born.
"When she did come out I just sort of wiped her mouth so she could cry, I could see she was breathing," she said.
Jessica was four days early but in perfect health upon arrival, much to the delight of her mother.
Mrs Gibson said although she was due on July 8, she had a feeling Jessica might come early.
"I've always had the number four in my head for some reason, it's really weird," she said.
Luckily it was a straight-forward delivery and mother and daughter remained attached until the umbilical cord was severed at the hospital.
Mrs Gibson said she was keen to find out if she had a little girl after keeping it as a surprise throughout her pregnancy.
Jessica weighed in at 9lb 4 oz (4200g) and is a little sister for 3 1/2-year-old Joshua.
Mother and daughter will be going back home to Papamoa this afternoon.
Jessica's early arrival catches parents short on bridge
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