A St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy recently responded to a call that was a first for him.

“It was a proud moment,” Deputy Grant Pierre Jr. said.

Pierre received the call Aug. 19 indicating a woman was about to give birth in her home.

“I got the call and went to the house,” Pierre said. “When I got to the house, a report came in that the baby was crowning. So, I ran into the house putting on my latex gloves and went straight to the bedroom, where the mother was laying on the floor.”

This was parents Devin and Gabrielle Batiste’s third child. When the deputy came in, the father stepped aside to let Pierre assist his wife.

Devin called 911 and was instructed by the operator to get his wife on the floor.

“That’s when I saw the top of the baby’s head,” Devin said. “I told him the baby was coming. He told me the ambulance is on the way, but I might have to deliver the baby. Her head started coming out, and I heard the door open and it was Grant (Pierre). I saw him coming down the hall and thought ‘Ah, thank you.’”

The deputy and Devin were friends.

“I told her to keep pushing,” Pierre said. “There was a point where the baby stopped coming, and I told her to keep pushing. She told me she was. Thankfully, with more pushing, the baby came out. I was able to use my index finger and middle finger to get under the baby’s chin and guide her out.”

Gabrielle said she originally didn’t know she was going into labor.

“I just thought I was having Braxton Hicks contractions,” she said. “I could talk through the pain and I could walk through it. (Devin) asked me about 10 times if I wanted to go to the hospital but I said I was fine. Then one big contraction came and she was coming out.”

Pierre said he was nervous at first, and, honestly, hoped the fire department or ambulance service would have gotten there first, but he knew that wouldn’t happen because he was in the area when the call came. With his help, healthy baby Isya Batiste was born. Pierre got the call 10 minutes before 3 a.m. and Isya was born at 3:05 a.m.

Going through the experience with both of his children, Pierre had some knowledge as of what to do. While he was there for his children’s births, Pierre said he wasn’t “at the bottom end.”

Sheriff Mike Tregre said a call like this is rare but might happen two or three times a year.

“He did a tremendous job,” Tregre said. “It’s awesome to me that one of our officers performed as he did.”

The sheriff said there is no specific course or training they do to prepare officers for this type of situation, and it’s nice Pierre had personal experience.

“(Pierre) did a good job,” Tregre said. “He remained calm and did the job he was called to do. It’s a good reflection on St. John the Baptist Parish and the men and women who serve.”

Tregre joked if the Sheriff’s Office gets another call of a birth, authorities are going to send Pierre first.

Pierre said he and the parents are grateful everything turned out well.

“Mom and dad both did great,” he said. “I still keep in touch with them to this day. I actually consider the baby my niece, being that this is the first and only baby I’ve delivered personally.”