Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 03/01) - It all happened really fast. Kevin Laframboise, director of the Side Door Youth Centre, delivered his second child, Jenna Dawne Faith, Monday afternoon in his own bathroom.

Kevin and Shannon Laframboise with their new baby, Jenna Dawne Faith. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

"I saw the baby's head was out," he said.

"And I told her to push and two pushes later there was a baby in my hands."

Shannon Laframboise was one week overdue.

Her doctor induced her Monday morning, but since she spent 15 hours in labour with her first child, they expected the procedure to take a lot longer.

Even though Laframboise knew nothing about delivering babies, his protecting instincts kicked in immediately.

"I was scared, but at the same time I had this adrenaline rush," he said. "I saw the head and it was blue and bloody and I had a natural instinct to make sure my baby wouldn't die."

The couple's first child, two-year-old Raya, walked into the bathroom while all the action was taking place.

"She saw all the blood and thought the baby was bleeding," said Laframboise. "She pointed to her and said: 'Baby, ow.'"

When the ambulance showed up, Laframboise cut the umbilical cord.

"It was meaningful for me to participate in the delivery," he said. "It's something I will tell my grandchildren."

"But Shannon did all the work, I just caught her."