The Wabiszewski family of Renfrew includes Kristin, Mark, and sons Isaac and Micah, and Kristen's mother, Karen Robb of Saxonburg. Isaac was born in the backseat of the Wabiszewski's SUV as they drove toward the hospital on Thursday night. Karen Robb delivered her grandson.

RENFREW — Kristin and Mark Wabiszewski welcomed their newborn son into the world Thursday night — from the backseat of their Honda Pilot.

The Renfrew couple had been prepping to go to Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC shortly after Kristin began to have contractions that afternoon. But before they even left the driveway, her water broke. Isaac was born about a half-hour later.

“Everything just happened so fast,” said Kristin, 25, who was at home Monday cradling her healthy newborn, resting quietly in her arms. “It was surreal.”

It was the exact opposite of her older son's birth. That time she had been having contractions for days before she gave birth to Micah, now 2.

This time, Mark drove quickly and deftly during torrential downpours. That left Karen Robb of Saxonburg in the back seat to tend to her pregnant daughter.

Mark said, “We were debating on whether to go to Butler or Magee, but Magee was where we were supposed to go. And even at that point, I figured we had enough time to make it.

“It was a downpour to the point where they (other drivers) had their four-way flashers on. Some had to drive so slow. It was pretty bad.”

Robb ended up delivering her grandson.

“I have four children of my own, and everyone's like, 'Oh, you've been through that,'” she said. “It's so different being on the other side of it.”

As they headed on Route 19 for Route 228, things were progressing.

Robb said, “I think we were somewhere near Target, and I said, 'Mark, I'm holding the baby's head in my hands.' That was probably, like, such a moment for us all.

“We talk about miracles and babies and everything, but this tops it, for sure.”

The couple estimates baby Isaac was born about 8:24 p.m., about the time they had reached the intersection of routes 19 and 228. A few minutes later, they pulled into the UPMC Passavant Cranberry parking lot.

Isaac's vital signs had stabilized within a few hours of his birth so the next day, mother and baby went to Magee. They were released from the hospital on Sunday.

The couple said a guideline is to go to the hospital when contractions are seven minutes apart and last for one minute each over the course of an hour. Her water broke before then.

“We did not wait any longer than they told us to,” Kristin said. “It was just my mom and me in the back, and Mark driving. And then he joined us.”