Baby on board: Family unexpectedly welcomes baby on a Marine Atlantic ferry

The newest resident of Newfoundland's Codroy Valley just couldn't wait to make her first appearance, and was born aboard the Marine Atlantic ferry crossing between Port aux Basques, N.L. and North Sydney, N.S., last Friday.

Lindsey Gale and Mason Devoe said the arrival of their daughter, Miley Genevieve, was an unexpected surprise at 33 weeks.

Gale told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning she felt something might have been off throughout the day, and quickly realized what was happening.

"Earlier in the evening I had thought I was having some Braxton Hicks contractions as they were pretty far apart and pretty sporadic," Gale said. "And as the night went on, they got more and more regular."

Heading toward North Sydney and without a nurse versed in child birth, the couple said things got scary at times.

Paramedics were rushed onto the boat once it was docked. Gale and Devoe say they're grateful to them and their longtime friends on board the vessel — Sherry Scott, Mike Scott and Nick Billard — for their steadfast support.

"[I'm] lucky that Lindsey's the toughest woman I know, and she got through it better than anybody else could," Devoe said.

Both mom and baby are doing well, Gale said. Miley was born at four pounds seven ounces, and needs to spend some more time at Cape Breton Regional Hospital before she can come home to Newfoundland.

"We spent our first night with her [Wednesday] night in our own room," Devoe said. "Lindsey only cried for an hour, so it went pretty good," he added with a laugh. 

As for the birth certificate, given they were floating between provinces at the time, the couple say they're still working it out but hope Miley can be a Newfoundlander.

LISTEN | Hear the full conversation with CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning: 

CBC Newfoundland Morning11:47Berths and a birth: Marine Atlantic had both on board last week

It was an early arrival on a Marine Atlantic ferry, as the newest resident of the Codroy Valley just couldn't wait to make her appearance. Miley is the newborn daughter of Lindsey Gale and Mason Devoe. She was born -- prematurely -- on board the ferry early last Friday morning as it approached North Sydney, NS. We reached the proud parents, Lindsey Gale and Mason Devoe in hospital in Cape Breton. (*note crackling sound quality of phone reception*).

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