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Most babies are born with the doctor or midwife nearby, here is how to handle it if you find yourself in this situation without medical help.

1. Don't panic.
2. Call for help, if possible. (911, midwife, doctor)
3. Remind mother to breathe slowly.
4. Place hand on baby's head, allowing it to come out slowly.
5. Do not pull on the baby's head or body.
6. As the baby is born gently stroke downward on the baby's nose.
7. Place the baby skin to skin with the mother.
8. Place something warm over both of them.
9. Have mother breastfeed baby, if possible.
10. If placenta is born, place next to baby.
11. Wait for assistance, or finish driving to place of birth.

Tips:

1. Grab towels or shirts to wrap mom and baby up if possible. If in a car look for emergency blanket.

2. Cutting the umbilical cord can cause mom and/or baby to bleed and removes source of oxygen for baby. Ordinarily I'd say let the experts cut the cord so as not to risk infection (or losss of blood). On the other haND, cutting the cord can be a joyous moment in a person's life; being able to symbolically break the link from the internal womb world to extrauterine life. Should you wish or if it is necessary to cut the cord, see notes below.

3. Having mom breastfeed reduces the amount of blood she loses.

1. Be sure the cord has stopped pulsing for most births.
2. Ensure that there are two clamps on the cord.
3. Hold the section of cord to be cut with a piece of gauze under it.
4. Using sterile scissors cut between the two clamps.
5. Dab excess blood.
6. Place scissors away.

Tips:

1. The gauze keeps excess blood from splattering.
2. Remind everyone that mom and baby can't feel the cord being cut.
3. The cord is thicker and harder to cut, more like meat gristle. Don't be surprised.

1. When the baby is born, use a dry, clean cloth to wipe away fluid from baby's nose and mouth to facilitate breathing.

2. Keep the baby's head just below the rest of its body, to help drain any fluid from its lungs. If the baby continues to have trouble breathing, do not slap the baby's bottom. It's more effective to hold the baby on its stomach and gently, but rigorously rub its back in a circular motion.

3. Touching along the spine stimulates breathing because it alerts the brain. You can also lightly flick your fingertips on the bottom of the baby's feet.

4. As soon as the baby is breathing, the cord needs to be clamped ... you don't want the blood that's inside the baby to go back through the cord and into the mother. You can tie the cord with a shoestring, a hair clamp, or by tying a knot in it ... just as long as you can stop the blood flow.