Rabab Ahmed had not intended to visit Canada, but baby Nadine had her own plans.

The British Airways flight from London to Boston Ahmed was on had to be diverted to Halifax after she gave birth on the plane last Saturday.

"I thought they would be mad or upset," Ahmed said of the passengers, "but everyone was clapping."

Ahmed, 28, was five hours out of London when she developed abdominal pains. Seven-and-a-half-months pregnant with her first child, she wasn't expecting an early arrival.

She had met with her doctor the day before, and even got a note to travel. She had no baby blankets, diaper bag or carriage.

"I had no idea that this was labour," Ahmed told CBC News on Monday, from the IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax.

Ahmed went to talk with a flight attendant, and soon they both realized she was in labour.

The flight attendant announced over the intercom that there was a medical emergency and a doctor was required.

'I was screaming my lungs out'

With the help of the crew, three doctors and a midwife, Ahmed was placed in the back of the plane on a makeshift bed of pillows.

"At that point I didn't care where I was," she said with a laugh. "Of course I was screaming my lungs out."

Ahmed said it wasn't long after her water broke that Nadine was born. The little girl weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces.

Ahmed had been travelling to Boston to join her father, but the pilot diverted to Halifax International Airport so she and her baby could get to the nearest hospital.

Ahmed, who has both American and Egyptian citizenship, said she's never been to Canada before. But since little Nadine is now a Canadian citizen, she said she may be back.