Surprise Home Birth Rings in New Year for Long Valley Family

Leo Forsbrey came a little late to the New Year’s party, but gave his parents the best holiday gift they could have asked for.

For a few seconds, it was a gift that scared them half to death.

Rebecca Forsbrey and her husband, Gregg, were expecting their second son, Leo, to be born around his due date, which was Dec. 24. A beautiful Christmas gift he would be, if only he arrived on time.

So at 4:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Rebecca nudged Gregg awake and said the time had come, and Leo was on his way. The bags were packed and the proud father ran outside to warm up the car before the couple left for Morristown Medical Center.

The trip would soon be delayed, however, and when Gregg came back in the house, Rebecca told him they weren’t going to make it to the hospital.

“(Rebecca) said ‘we’re not going to make it’ to the hospital and that I needed to call 9-1-1,” Gregg Forsbrey said. “I thought, can’t you wait?”

Forsbrey picked up his phone and began dialing for emergency services. By the time he had given the dispatcher his address, Leo had been born.

“I’ve got the phone between my ear and shoulder and I’m catching my son,” Forsbrey said. “I went from telling the dispatcher my wife is in labor to saying she just gave birth.”

The dispatcher, who was a tremendous help, Forsbrey said, told the father to find a string and tie it around the umbilical cord until paramedics arrived.

All the systems were in place for Leo’s arrival, from the birth plan to the pre-registration at the hospital, but baby Forsbrey clearly had other plans. The parents thought they had some time to spare, since their first son, Erik, took eight hours to arrive.

Once baby Leo met the world, all seven pounds and 11 ounces of him, he was placed on his mother’s chest. Gregg Forsbrey ran outside to great his in-laws who were en route to watch Erik. A few minutes later the police arrived, followed by the Long Valley First Aid Squad.

Erik was in his own room across the hall and slept through the entire thing.

Leo Forsbrey was the second baby born in Morris County in 2014, Forsbrey said from Morristown Medical Center, where he, Rebecca and baby Leo are recovering well.