911 operator talks couple through baby’s birth

American Fork, Utah — Thanks to the quick and calm thinking of a 911 dispatcher, a Utah family is safe with their newborn girl.

Besides, that dispatcher was on the job for only a few months, she stayed on the line the entire time with Laura and Aaron Meyerink to talk them through the baby’s delivery over the phone.

It all happened on Nov. 18 when Laura Meyerink went into labor in her bathroom.

“I hear Laura up inside and I go into the bathroom and she’s holding her water,” her husband explained.

Laura said, “When I woke up to when she was born, it was less than an hour.”

The couple had only one choice — to call 911.

You can hear how calm Aaron Meyerink and the 911 operator, Jasmine Baum, were during the delivery.

Meyerink: “She’s dilated, super hard.”

Baum: “OK and you said she’s crowning? So do you see the head?”

Meyerink: “No, but we’re about there.”

Jasmine Baum had been on the job only five months.

“It just so happened that they got me, I guess,” she laughed. “I know that most inspectors don’t get that type of call for years, so I kind of thought it was a joke for a second. But it was not.”

“She was able to keep both of us calm and clearly communicate what needed to be done,” Meyerink said.

According to the couple, Baum’s instructions made all the difference as they waited for the ambulance.

They are grateful that little Caroline was born safely.

“It’s a first for us and a first for her, so we super appreciate the help and that of emergency services too,” Meyerink said.

Laura and Aaron gave little Caroline a special middle name. “Aurora” is another name for the flashing northern lights, much like the ambulance lights that greeted her on her birthday.