In a first of its kind, news anchor Olivia Jaquith remarkably stayed on air during a three-hour morning newscast for WRB-TV CBS6 in Albany, New York, despite being in full labour.
On Wednesday morning, her water broke around 4.15 am, but that didn’t stop Jaquith from going to work for her 6 am broadcast.
Co-anchor Julia Dunn stated on the show: "We do have some breaking news this morning – literally… Olivia's water has broke, and she is anchoring the news now in active labour."
To which Jaquith replied: "Early labour, early labour," with her contractions far apart. The soon-to-be mother was two days past her due date.
"I'm happy to be here, and I'll stay on the desk for as long as I possibly can," she added, "But if I disappear, that's what's going on."
According to the Times-Union, Jaquith had the option of going home, but she said she would rather pass the time working than be "nervously waiting around at the hospital."
She expressed that "Having the entire morning team alongside me cracking jokes helped me get through contractions much easier."
The following day, the birth of her first child, a baby boy named Quincy, was announced.
News Director Stone Grissom praised Jaquith in a statement after her exquisite broadcast: "We couldn't be more thrilled for them. From her on-air pregnancy announcement earlier this year to running a half-marathon while expecting, Olivia has met every stage of this journey with grace and grit. Today was no exception." He added that "Olivia's passion for storytelling, love for her hometown, and commitment to our viewers have always been evident. We're overjoyed to soon welcome our newest (and tiniest!) member."
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