Ill. State Trooper delivers daughter on side of highway

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (CNN) -- At 7lbs, 2 ounces, Macey Carolyn Martinez was her parents’ holiday surprise.

"I used to make fun of people that had babies on the side of the road because I couldn't understand how you didn't make it to the hospital in time, but after yesterday now I understand how that truly does happen,” said mother, Megan Martinez.

It was 7:30 Friday morning when Megan Martinez said her water broke.

Soon, the contractions were a minute and a half apart as she and husband Chad, an Illinois state trooper, hit the road for the 25 mile drive from their home to their hospital.

"When we got to Naperville Road and I-88, I told him that there's a foot hanging out, and he didn't believe me. And I reached, and there were toes. And I'm like Chad, there's toes,” said Martinez.

It was going to be a breech birth.

Chad pulled off to the side of the interstate, their 21-month-old daughter Ava was also in the back seat with mom.

Macey was born within minutes, but she wasn't in the clear.

"The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice. So at that point, immediately training just kicked in,” father Chad Martinez said.

Macey wasn't breathing, so Chad laid her down on the shoulder of the expressway.

"I had to improvise by removing the mucous from the airway, and I actually had to do that by mouth,” said Chad Martinez.

"When she started breathing I think we both were like oh my gosh, she's breathing, she's breathing. It was just like this elation,” said Megan Martinez.

Soon, an ambulance arrived to take the family to the hospital where Megan and Macey were doing just fine.

"This is the best gift I got this Christmas. Without a doubt,” said Megan Martinez.

"It's very honoring. It's breath-taking. It's just overwhelming,” said Chad Martinez.