Liz Shishkoff gives birth to baby girl along I-88 near Route 83

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Liz Sishkoff of Glen Ellyn gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Charlotte River along the side of I-88 near Route 83.

Illinois State Police said the infant was born around 4 a.m. Tuesday. Liz and her husband Ray were on their way to LaGrange Hospital when they had to pull over.

"I pictured definitely getting to the hospital," Liz said.

The contractions had started at home, but Liz and Ray Shishkoff's doctor encouraged them to stay put.

"Well, she said the timing, you probably have about an hour because it's your first kid," said Ray, "until you really need to go to hospital."

About 20 minutes later, the Shishkoffs decided not to wait any longer. It was time to get into the car and go.

"Ten minutes in Liz is in the middle of one of her contractions," Ray said. "At the beginning of the contraction she said, 'I think it's going to happen soon. We may have to pull over.' By the end of the contraction she said, 'We can probably make it.' And then on the next contraction she said, 'Pull over now.'"

The baby was already crowning by the time Ray was able to call 911 and Liz had already given birth by the time the dispatched state trooper and paramedics arrived on the scene.

"Mom and baby were doing really well," said Dan Anker paramedics. "Dad did a fantastic job keeping his calm. You could tell he was a little freaked out."

"The good thing was we heard baby moving right away," said Shawn Mowrey, another paramedic, "moving arms, legs, everything looking good. That was a relief."

She and the baby were transported to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in good condition. Mother and baby are both doing well.

Charlotte River Shishkoff was born at 4:05 a.m. Tuesday. She weighs 7 pounds and measures 20 inches long. She is the Shishkoffs' first child.

Ray Shishkoff said he's seen stories like this in the past, but never imagined he'd be at the center of one.