When a pregnant woman is fully dilated and ready to push, babies wait for no one. The tricky part of labor and delivery, sometimes even for seasoned professionals, is determining whether an expecting mom is in active labor. Even so, a woman can get to 10 centimeters in a matter of minutes.
Michigan mom Alyse Sparkman learned this firsthand. She went from her water breaking to holding her newborn in two minutes flat. Inconveniently, she and her husband, Sean, happened to be at a restaurant when it all went down. And now, their baby girl's name honors her birth location.
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Alyse started having contractions on April 27, but the hospital sent her home.
On April 27, the couple went to the hospital after Alyse started having contractions. Staff sent her home, explaining that Alyse didn’t seem to be in active labor. That’s when they decided to go to Lily's Seafood Grill and Brewery in Royal Oak, Michigan, to grab some food.
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Her water broke after their meals arrived.
At the restaurant, the couple ordered their food. Their meals arrived, and things quickly got intense. "She took one bite and goes, 'My water's breaking! Go get the car!'" Sean told WDIV.
Two minutes later, Alyse delivered a baby girl.
As Sean hurried to get the car, Alyse delivered a baby girl two minutes later, while still sitting at the table at the restaurant. "It was right out of a movie," he told Today. "I’m sitting at a light and she calls me and says, 'I had the baby.'"
Sean added, "I was like, 'Oh no, I can’t believe I missed it. I feel so bad.' She goes, 'Don’t feel bad — just get here!'"
Alyse delivered a daughter, who weighed 4 lbs., 8 oz., and was 18 inches long, with the help of two nurses and a phlebotomist who happened to be right next to them at the restaurant.
Naturally, they named her after the restaurant.
Originally, Alyse and Sean had chosen the middle name "Danielle" for their daughter. They instead opted for an ode to Lily's Seafood Grill and Brewery. Their baby girl's name is Penelope Lily Sparkman.
The restaurant now has a plaque in the baby girl's honor.
Today, a plaque hangs at the table where Penelope made her grand entrance. It reads, "Penelope 'Lily' Sparkman, 1st Visit/April 27, 2024/8 P.M./4 Pounds, 8 Ounces."
