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Love's labour delivered during English exam

Last Updated: Thursday, March 1, 2007 | 11:27 AM PT

CBC News

As an excuse to get out of writing an English exam, having a baby right there in the classroom may be going a bit far. But that's what a student did in New Westminster, B.C., on Wednesday.

Halfway through her exam at New Westminster's Douglas College, Haddy Faal-Keita — who was eight months pregnant — felt her contractions become too strong to continue, so she asked for permission to leave.

Her professor went to call paramedics, but the baby couldn't wait.

"My water broke. The next thing I know, this was the baby. She was out in my pants," Faal-Keita said.

When her instructor, Jill MacLachlan, returned, it was clear the ambulance wouldn't arrive in time. She and some of her students delivered the baby in the classroom.

"We put a blanket over her and pulled down her pants, and the baby slipped right out immediately," MacLachlan said.

Mother and daughter were doing well Thursday morning at Royal Columbian Hospital.

Faal-Keita said that what MacLachlan and her classmates did was incredible.

"I appreciate everything they did for me, especially my teacher Jill. She was very helpful to me."

Faal-Keita said she's feeling fine, and plans to return to school next week to finish her exam.

Douglas College is offering Faal-Keita's newborn girl free tuition for one year if she ends up going there as an adult.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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