Father helps deliver baby girl on Route 1

CAMDEN, Del. (WPVI) -- A Camden, Delaware family expanded over the weekend.

A new baby is enough excitement on its own, but how this baby girl came into the world caught mom off guard. As dad ended up making the special delivery in an unlikely place.

Joe and Melissa Alan have a new bundle of joy, Bayleigh Kait.

But she came into this world on her own timing.

"It hit fast. It came fast. We did not have any time to get up there," Melissa said.

Melissa went into labor Sunday night.

The Camden, Delaware couple was making the hour drive to their Wilmington birthing center, but never got there.

"We got 40 minutes down the road and I told my husband to stop; we have to deliver the baby right there," Melissa said.

Melissa says her body was telling her it was time to push.

"We got over the bridge in Middletown. We paid the toll and that's when she said we have to stop right now," Joe said.

"It was too fast to doubt it; I knew I was giving birth in my car," Melissa said.

Right along Route 1, husband Joe pulled over and helped his wife into the backseat.

And one minute later, there was a baby.

"I saw the baby. I saw her head, that's when it hit me it was real," Melissa said.

With limited light, Joe called 911 with an urgency in his voice.

"I was trying to be calm, but I was yelling into the phone, 'we're having a baby on Route 1,'" Joe said.

Joe was helping deliver his own baby girl.

"Once she calmed us down, she talked us through it. She said you have to tie off the cord," Joe said.

July 6th.

10:39 p.m.

Along the busy highway in Delaware, baby Bayleigh just couldn't wait another second.

"I've seen it on TV and in movies, but I can't believe it's our birth story," Melissa said.