Maggie and Matt Reichel and the employees of a Colorado electric cooperative got the shock of a lifetime after Maggie gave birth to a healthy baby girl in the co-op’s lobby.
The Reichels were opening a new account at San Isabel Electric Association in Pueblo West in July when it suddenly became clear that the baby’s arrival was imminent.
“I read through the contract, signed on the dotted line, and in that moment, my water broke. It was instantaneous. We became members, and then my water broke,” said Maggie Reichel.
She said her contractions had begun earlier that day but were far enough apart to let the couple stop at the co-op and open a new account for their house currently under construction. Or so they thought.
“I was timing them, and I was like, ‘OK, after we sign this, we should probably think about going to the hospital,’” Maggie said.
The parents had high praise for the co-op’s employees, who sprang into action when they realized a tiny new member was about to arrive.
Member service rep Melissa Rhodes offered assistance after Matt helped Maggie to the bathroom area off the lobby.
“She was so sweet,” Maggie said. “She checked in and asked if we needed a pillow or help with anything.”
Another employee called 911, and emergency responders arrived about seven minutes later.
“It was 1:18 p.m. when they arrived, and she was born at 1:23, five minutes later,” Maggie said. “It was very fast, and she was just perfect from the very beginning.”
Communications Manager Paris Daugherty had the day off and had stopped by the office with her young son just after paramedics took the Reichels and the baby to a nearby hospital.
Employees were still buzzing about the event when she arrived. General Manager and CEO Ryan Elarton emerged from a supply closet, cleaning supplies in hand, looking a bit disheveled.
“He normally wears blue jeans, a Western shirt, cuffs buttoned up, and his hair is always perfectly combed,” Daugherty said. “But when I saw him, his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, his hair was a mess, his face was red, and he was sweaty. He said, ‘Did you hear the news?’ He put his hands up to the sky and said, ‘We had a baby!’”
Speculation about whether the couple would name the baby Isabel arose shortly after the birth. Reichel said labor and delivery room staff raised the possibility, and at the co-op, “We tried to suggest it,” Daugherty joked.
In the end, though, the couple named the 6-pound, 12-ounce baby Vivienne. The newborn was the star of a reunion hosted a week later at the co-op for her parents, big brother Axel, the emergency responders and employees. The co-op provided refreshments and gave Vivienne special electricity-themed onesies with its logo.
“They have cute sayings like ‘spark of joy’ and ‘baby megawatt,’” Daugherty said. “We had more made to keep on hand for when our employees have babies.”
Or the next time a member unexpectedly goes into labor in the front lobby. Should that happen, she would be in good hands.
“I wouldn’t recommend a field birth to anybody, but I’m telling everyone if you do have one, you should go to the San Isabel Electric co-op,” Reichel said.
Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.