Connecticut couple drive through blizzard to hospital after baby boy decides to arrive early

HARTFORD, Conn. – Sarah and Andrew Browning were not expecting to have their baby until Valentine’s Day, so when the Farmington woman began having contractions Monday, she assumed it was false labour.

As the Northeast blizzard grew worse, so did her contractions. Andrew Browning, a pastor at the New Hope Baptist Church in Torrington, says he and his wife began praying for guidance.

“We prayed that the Lord would make it clear which way we should go, whether we should just sit it out or whether we should go out and brave this,” he said.

About 10 minutes later, his wife’s water broke.

Browning said he was unsure about breaking the governor’s travel ban, so he called 911. He said the dispatcher assured him it would be all right for him to drive to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in nearby New Britain and emergency crews would respond if they got into any trouble.

Browning says it took them about 40 minutes to make what normally is a 15-minute trip.

“I was driving as slow as you can,” he said. “We got lucky on a couple of roads, we were able to come behind plows.”

The Brownings arrived at the hospital at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Graham Michael Browning was born at 8:50 a.m., weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces.

Andrew Browning, 25, said mother and baby are both doing well.

“We’re excited that he made it here, even if it was a little bit early and unexpected,” he said.