Minnesota couple get special Christmas delivery along frigid highway

They were on their way to United Hospital when their third child arrived.

December 26, 2017 at 5:12PM

Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's most precious Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife, Hannah, said he'd better call an ambulance.

The couple spent Christmas Eve at Taylor Lindeman's parents' home in Shafer, Minn., near Taylors Falls. Taylor Lindeman, 29, said his wife had been up and down much of the night with contractions but she wasn't especially concerned.

Christmas Day started about 7 a.m. when their daughters, Lilly, 5, and Dahlia, 3, began opening their presents. The adults started opening their gifts, but Lindeman said his wife couldn't get through hers because her contractions grew more frequent and "much more painful."

They left his parents' house about 9 a.m. for the 45-minute drive to United Hospital in St. Paul.

"I called United to tell them that we were coming. After that, my wife said that I needed to call an ambulance," Taylor said. "Her contractions were very, very painful. So I called the ambulance and stayed on the line and then eventually had to stop to have the ambulance find us, because they said if I keep driving they couldn't continue following me."

They pulled off Hwy. 8 in a windswept area at the edge of Chisago City and Wyoming. Taylor put the ambulance dispatcher on speaker phone and went around to the passenger side of the vehicle where Hannah, 31, was seated. He stood at the open door. He said it was minus-1 or minus-2 degrees outside with a windchill making it feel like 25-below.

No passers-by stopped to help, Taylor said. He guessed that it was too cold, and that other drivers had their Christmas destinations in mind.

"While I was on the phone with the dispatcher, her water broke," Taylor said.

That was 9:18 a.m.

Just two minutes later, out came their daughter Poppy. At 20.5 inches long and 6 pounds, 8 ounces — "She's our biggest baby yet," the proud poppa said.

A Lakes Area Police officer arrived a minute or two later and stayed with the Lindemans while they waited a few minutes for the ambulance. Taylor closed the passenger door and cranked up the heat.

The police officer cut a shoelace from Hannah's boot and tied off the umbilical cord, as instructed by an Allina Health dispatcher.

"The police officer did a really good job. The paramedics did a really good job, too," Taylor said.

He said both parents were doing well at United Hospital Monday afternoon as they braced for a crush of reporters and photographers. They expect to return to their home in Byron, Minn. sometime Wednesday.

Taylor, who teaches seventh-grade English in the Rochester Public Schools, said the delivery took him and his wife, a stay-at-home mom, by surprise. Hannah's first delivery took between seven to nine hours, he said. Her second delivery came about three hours after they arrived at the hospital. This one, he said, probably took 60 to 90 minutes.

"We weren't really expecting today to be the delivery — but obviously she had other plans," Taylor said of Poppy.

Dan Browning • 612-673-4493


Poppy Lindeman, the baby delivered on the side of a road by her father Taylor in Chisago City on Monday.
Poppy Lindeman, the baby delivered on the side of a road by her father Taylor in Chisago City on Monday. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Sitting behind Hannah is her husband, Taylor, who delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter,
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Sitting behind Hannah is her husband, Taylor, who delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family’s best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he’d better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter, Poppy, on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance.
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Taylor Lindeman delivered his family’s best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he’d better call an ambulance. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Sitting behind Hannah is her husband, Taylor, who delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter,
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. Sitting behind Hannah is her husband, Taylor, who delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Poppy Lindeman, the newborn baby delivered on the side of a road by her father Taylor in Chisago City earlier Monday. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter, Poppy, on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.
Poppy Lindeman decided that Monday was the day she would enter the world, and she was not going to wait for anyone. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Taylor Lindeman leaned in over his wife Hannah and newborn daughter Poppy Monday night at United Hospital. Taylor delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter, Poppy, on Monday, De
Taylor Lindeman leaned in over his wife Hannah and newborn daughter Poppy Monday night at United Hospital. Taylor delivered Poppy on the side of a road in Chisago City earlier Monday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Taylor Lindeman delivered his family's best Christmas present Monday along a frigid roadside in Chisago City shortly after his pregnant wife Hannah said he'd better call an ambulance. We photograph Taylor, Hannah and their newborn daughter, Poppy, on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.
Hannah Lindeman held her newborn daughter, Poppy, in her hospital room Monday night. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

Dan Browning

Reporter

Dan Browning has worked as a reporter and editor since 1982. He joined the Star Tribune in 1998 and now covers greater Minnesota. His expertise includes investigative reporting, public records, data analysis and legal affairs.

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