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Woman gives birth on flight from Canada to Japan

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Wow, I guess the child's nationality will be "up in the air"

23 ( +28 / -5 )

Christopher: If neither parent is Japanese then, no. If this kind of thing happens over Europe and some other areas a child can attain any nationality (or multiple) it is in the airspace in at time of birth. You can read about cases where a child has multiple nationalities as a result.

Anyway, glad mom and child were safe, and congrats to the crew and anyone who helped out. Truly good news.

-7 ( +10 / -18 )

Basically, If one of the parent is Canadian then the child can be a Canadian citizen by descent even if born outside Canada.

2 ( +3 / -2 )

They're lucky the baby is healthy.

1 ( +1 / -1 )

Glad the little girl was delivered without any complications. Welcome to the world!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

mozeru tobu

-1 ( +1 / -1 )

I can see the birth certificate already. Place of birth: The Pacific Ocean.

3 ( +6 / -2 )

Slow news day?

-5 ( +5 / -9 )

Was the doctor Leslie Nielsen?

A baby born on a plane? Surely you can't be serious?... I am serious... And don't call me Shirley.

11 ( +10 / -0 )

I saw this first thing on the news this morning and the reporter yelled "Congratulation" to the father. And of course, I immediately yelled back at the TV with "No, it's CONGRATULATIONS!!". Won't they ever learn you hardly EVER use that word without the "S" !?!?

-14 ( +6 / -17 )

Hang on! It states Air Canada allows pregnant to fly up to the 36th week. Was the baby born primitively or was she over the 36 week threshold. Personally, I think it's pretty irresponsible to travel by plane in the late stages of pregnancy. In this case, she was lucky there was a doctor on board. The story could have had a completely different ending if there was not a doctor on board.

-8 ( +2 / -12 )

@Carolingium

Slow news day?

You must be one of the "sadistic" ones who prefer the "crime" column...

Congratulations to the new parents and welcome to the baby !

11 ( +11 / -1 )

First class delivery!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Dateline baby girl! It doesn't say how close to the dateline the birth was. Glad all turned out perfect.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Just for reference: Baby's born in Japan to non Japanese parents are not Japanese.

4 ( +5 / -2 )

international baby, flight baby, space baby and happy baby, wish you a happy life and a good health to your mam.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

You can be 36 weeks pregnant and still take a flight with Air Canada which is a nonsense. I'm happy that the little baby is safe, but I wonder what the mother was thinking. She's lucky that it didn't happen in Japan because I doubt her insurance would pay.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Fantastic story! Congratulations. How about Charlotte for a name!!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

36 is pushing it, the initial date is always hazy, so you cannot really set the conception date- and that starts the "40 weeks" and children have a mind of their own anyway.

so if this was a last minute "Vacation" = not a real smart idea

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Nessie: What nozeru tobu means?

@Disillusioned: Are you sure 36 weeks? Check number please. Isan;t 9 month normal full pregnancy period? Are there abt woman comment writer here than me ?

Congratulations. Don't throw away even APPLE create new phones.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

cracaphat: "I reckon it's a Canadian father and his Japanese wife."

The First line, third word or so clearly says the woman is Canadian. Doesn't say anything about the partner, although since it clearly states 'partner' and does not list nationality, I'm guessing they are not married and that the partner is Japanese (they quite easily announced the mother is Canadian, why not say the nationality of the father unless Japanese?). I admit, though, that until I saw that it was a Canadian woman I automatically thought the same thing (although I thought both were maybe Japanese because you hear so often about women giving birth without the family here knowing she was pregnant. They're also coming TO Japan when she's on the verge of giving birth).

In any case, it's a bit of a weird story. But at least it's a weird story with a happy ending.

Disillusioned: Yeah, it's pretty irresponsible, and as I stated early it's unclear if the baby was born prematurely or not (although I have my doubts the delivery would have been so easy, relatively speaking, if the baby were that premature and needed additional, immediate medical help), but she probably hid how far along she was. I mean, the partner had no idea she was pregnant, so it stands to reason the airline didn't know (unless the partner is EXTREMELY stupid).

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Now I am not 100% sure but I think the woman is Japanese Canadian and she was coming to Japan to deliver her baby here. The woman's name was not released so I can't tell if she is Japanese or another Asian descent.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I agree with smith. She is a Canadian. 36 month is a full pregnancy. So in Canada, Airline can board a full pregnancy woman. Some reason this Canadian woman had to rush to go to Japan. Kind of weird this partner did not notice her full pregnancy. Women who had babies know our bottom body baloon up. Was he speaking to news in fluent English or fluent Japanese?

-7 ( +1 / -7 )

Hang on! It states Air Canada allows pregnant to fly up to the 36th week. Was the baby born primitively or was she over the 36 week threshold.

Could have been anything, because the lady was already obese and didn't even know she was pregnant! When I found that out, it explained why the father said, "This happened completely unexpectedly".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Was the baby born primitively or was she over the 36 week threshold.

So 36 weeks is the demarcation between a "primitive" delivery and a "modern" delivery? ;-)

Congratulations to the family! Better get that passport for the baby quick! She's already an international traveler!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Was the baby born primitively or was she over the 36 week threshold."

Primitively?????

Yeah, the baby must be primitive, being born on a plane!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@therougouMAY. 11, 2015 - 10:11PM JST Hang on! It states Air Canada allows pregnant to fly up to the 36th week. Was the baby born primitively or was she over the 36 week threshold. Could have been anything, because the lady was already obese and didn't even know she was pregnant! When I found that out, it explained why the father said, "This happened completely unexpectedly".

===============================================================

Nowhere the article said she was obese. Women know when she became Pregnant. Young like her age, there is something called mensu (period) and it stops when a woman becomes pregnant. After a while, some people have morning sickness. Obese people become more obese than Rosane or Oprah

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I think we're all born pretty primitively if you think about it.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Cool news! This doesn't happen all too often! Most time people die in airplanes instead of being born there.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Video can be found elsewhere showing both man and woman.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1990701/canadian-woman-gives-birth-on-air-canada-flight-en-route-to-japan/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I tried to fly back home in an emergency at 36 weeks once, but British Airways refused to take me. I`m amazed this woman was allowed on the plane, amazed her labor progressed so quickly from nothing to full delivery within the space of about 12 hours (yes, I know, it happens but prettty unusual especially for a first delivery - Im surmising no other children here as they werent with her and because if she had done this before she would either know the signs of labor or know she delivers quickly and not have risked it) and if the baby was born prematurely by more than 4 weeks, thank God she is ok.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Toshiko a full term pregnancy is considered 40 weeks not 36 but a baby can be born anywhere between 36-40 my son was born at 39 weeks. Also pretty sure everybody knows how a pregnancy works here haha.

I am confused by a lot of the information being provided in the comments. Her partner was unaware of her being pregnant? Is there another article somewhere with more information? I'm surprised she was allowed to fly that close to her due date. I had to make an emergency trip back to the U.S. Before I gave birth and was one week away from not being allowed to fly so I'm wondering if she either had a premature birth or lied about her due date?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But the thing is, some women actually do not. Some have irregular periods, and some continue to have bleeding or spotting during pregnancy. Put those two together, and especially if there is a lack of morning sickness (my sister-in-law had eight babies and not a single day of morning sickness), it's possible to not realize. Weight gain can be thought to be due to other factors. I know a woman whose first child was nearly two years old when she got pregnant with her second. But she didn't know she was pregnant until about a month before the healthy, apparently full term child was born.

Ive heard of these things too, but honestly I find them incredibly hard to believe having been pregnant three times now. Not everyone has morning sickness, not everyones periods stop for 9 months, but its a bit freaking difficult to miss being kicked and jabbed in the ribs, have your bladder used as a trampoline and your spine used for pole dancing and think its "just indigestion". I cant understand how a woman would go through months of that and it not occur to her even once that she might be pregnant, or at least go see a doctor.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Nowhere the article said she was obese. Women know when she became Pregnant. Young like her age, there is something called mensu (period) and it stops when a woman becomes pregnant. After a while, some people have morning sickness. Obese people become more obese than Rosane or Oprah

Just judging by the video on the news, it seemed she she was pretty large. Supposedly the partner didn't know she was pregnant, but its not clear about the woman herself. As you point out there are normally enough signs, but I've heard of strange cases..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN3--B4CwsA

Anyway, its good the baby was safe, but this just sounds like 2 immature people causing lots of trouble and even causing the planes to have to change their schedules. They screwed up and get free care and VIP treatment.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Air Canada plane so like she was born in Canada. The place of birth would be Narita Japan.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Saw this on the news and was amazed and delighted to see a doting new father cradling his newborn daughter. A few days ago it was Prince William, and now it's some anonymous stranger from Canada. Either way, congratulations!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Yuri: Her mother is a Canadian, So, she will be able to be a Canadian,

As for Japanese citizenship, if her father is a Japanese but not married, can be registerd as Shoshi with many red tapes. (illegitimate child)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Ada Guan and Wesley Branch have been dating for about a year, and had no idea they were about to be parents"

There you have it folks; the names of the people responsible for this "mess".

Why do I get the feeling neither is Japanese?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ah citizenship as both her parents are Canadian she is as well. I was addressing the where of the birth. The important part is mother and child are doing well.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@peeping: Thanks for info. Hope they will enjoy Japan and bring their extraordinaly memory to home. Airplane stuffs did strange but excellent care. Water breaking, contraction, ... they are heroes and heroins.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

YuriOtani

She was born inside of a Canadian airplane; the inside of a plane of sovereign territory of the country of the plane's registration (just like an embassy territory). Therefore she will be regarded as having been born in Canada.

And on top of that both parents appear to be Canadian.

I'm willing to bet she will not be a Japanese citizen just because the birth occurred when the plane was heading towards Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm willing to bet she will not be a Japanese citizen just because the birth occurred when the plane was heading towards Japan.

You got that right, in fact, she would not be a Japanese citizen even if she was conceived here, born here, registered her and if her parents had lived here for many years....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The father is a white Canadian, accent and all. He was on the news yesterday morning.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The kids gets a free flight the sneaky little bugger!!! Well done!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Also that they saw a doctor a few weeks ago who didn't detect the pregnancy. One site also had a little tutorial that said one in 2500 births is such a surprise birth.

If this is true then I take back the "immature" comment. But I think they should be grateful of the treatment they got. If this was the US, they'd probably be hit with a $1 million bill.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Guys, I doubt very much Disillusioned meant "primitive" and instead meant "premature", given that he was talking about the term of pregnancy and birth. It was likely auto-correct that went unnoticed.

Anyway, I didn't want to suggest the woman was overweight to begin with and that's why it was unexpected, but that did cross my mind as being one of the only reasons she herself would not have known. I still find it hard to believe, but if the other comments saying she got tested and tested negative for being pregnant then it's entirely possible.

As to those questioning nationality, the baby would never be Japanese so long as neither parent is not, regardless of whether she was born in Japanese airspace, on the ground here, or whatever. There ARE cases where a child can legally obtain more than one nationality when born on a plane in the air, but that is only with nations that recognize dual or multi-nationalities, and also which have agreements that a child born in its borders can obtain that nationality regardless of that of the parents.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

If neither parent is Japanese then, no.

You missed my wordplay then. All I said was there are different possibilities for what nationality the child will end up having

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

http://globalnews.ca/news/1990701/canadian-woman-gives-birth-on-air-canada-flight-en-route-to-japan/

check out the link above. this couple had no idea that the woman was pregnant.

about the baby's nationality, since both parents are Canadian, the baby cannot be Japanese. By law, at least one of the parents has to be a Japanese citizen in order for a baby to become a Japanese citizen.

kawachi

saw this first thing on the news this morning and the reporter yelled "Congratulation" to the father. And of course, I immediately yelled back at the TV with "No, it's CONGRATULATIONS!!". Won't they ever learn you hardly EVER use that word without the "S" !

what's important when speaking any language, is that you convey your thoughts. i'm sure that little "s" doesn't play a significant role in conversations. and I'm sure Japanese people would feel more comfortable speaking English without the fear of "making mistakes" if people didn't make a big deal about small stuff like this :)

Anyway.. I'm glad it all worked out fine and the baby girl is welcomed !!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Educator60

Some online news sites are reporting that the couple says that after gaining weight a few months ago, she took a pregnancy test that came back negative

That happened to me once... (twice actually, for the same baby : our first son). Even after finding out the two tests were incorrect, I managed to board a flight from Tokyo to Hong-Kong just about three weeks before the "presumed" date of birth. I was told the pilot must make the final decision... He took one look at me and said "No problem" ! (I carry my babies pretty "high up" and didn't even look pregnant). Since my husband couldn't join me there after all, I even flew back to Tokyo just a week later...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Born into the Mile High Club.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Congratulations!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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