'A Thanksgiving I'll Never Forget:' Mom Gives Birth in McDonald's Bathroom

A woman shocked everyone on Thursday when she went to use the bathroom at McDonald's in Fulton County, Georgia, and came out with a newborn baby.

Assisted by the staff at the fast-food restaurant on Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Alandria Worthy and her fiancé, Deandre Phillips, welcomed their new baby into the world on Thanksgiving in a most unusual setting.

On Facebook, McDonald's staff member Kesha Murray wrote that it was: "A Thanksgiving I'll never forget," while the new dad Phillips also posted on social media: "Wow what a Thanksgiving."

On Facebook, Worthy shared the story of her daughter's birth and wrote: "When you try to make it to the hospital but the restroom at McDonald's was closer."

Newsweek has reached out to Kesha Murray, Deandre Phillips and Alandria Worthy for comment.

Local news station 11Alive reported that new mom Worthy started getting contractions in the early hours of Thursday morning, but decided to wait a little longer before heading to the hospital.

By 7.30 a.m., Worthy was having contractions just 90 seconds apart, and the couple rushed to the car to head to the hospital.

But, halfway there, Worthy felt like she needed to use the bathroom, and so the couple made a stop at the local McDonald's.

A spokesperson for McDonald's told Newsweek: "The pregnant customer and her husband had stopped by the local McDonald's to use the restroom and grab a quick bite to eat. While in the restroom she realized that her water had broken and she was in active labor. As she began to give birth, she screamed, which alerted the McDonald's crew members and her husband of her condition."

General manager Tunisia Woodward was the first to arrive. She recalled walking into the bathroom and seeing Worthy on the toilet lying back and screaming and knew that the baby was on its way.

Newsweek has reached out to Woodward for comment.

The team rallied together, quickly calling 911 and telling father-to-be Phillips to come quickly from the car to be with his partner.

On Facebook, Phillips wrote: "[I] had the EMS people watching me like 'he knows what he doing', lol I didn't know s*** spirit took control of me..."

Just three pushes and 15 minutes later, baby Nandi Ariyah Moremi Phillips was born. Staff at McDonald's also gave the baby their own special nickname, as Murray wrote on Facebook: "Here she is 'Lil Nugget."

With the help of emergency dispatch talking the McDonald's workers and new father through how to deliver the baby, Phillips said that he was grateful that the staff were on hand to help.

In a heartwarming post, McDonald's worker Murray's own mom praised her daughter's efforts, sharing a post on Facebook that read: "I'm proud of my daughter for helping with the delivery of your babygirl!!! Simply awesome."

After the unexpected shift, Woodward was delighted that her actions had helped that day. "We are all mothers so we put our heads together," she told 11Alive. "It's a day I'll never forget. I'm going to tell this story from here on out."

Later, on Facebook, Murray shared a picture of the newborn and wrote: "This is the beautiful precious goddess."

Owner of the restaurant Steve Akinboro awarded the heroic employees with $250 gift cards in recognition of their actions. He told Newsweek: "We don't just serve food, we strive to serve feel-good moments every day, and this was in fact the epitome of a feel-good moment for my team."

But after receiving the gift, Woodward shared that she planed to spend her reward on "'Lil Nugget" instead.

Woodward picked up clothes, diapers, onesies and socks as she said how the experience had been eye-opening for her: "Just helping bring a life in. It was just amazing," she told 11Alive.

Phillips and Worthy were quick to share their thanks with the team and plan to visit the staff who helped deliver their little girl soon.

Newsweek reached out to McDonald's for comment.

UPDATE 11/28/22, 10:30 a.m.: This article was updated with extra comment and a new image.