A special delivery just couldn't wait for the hospital to make her arrival.

Parents Cindy and Imron Walters welcomed their six pound, three ounce bundle of joy in a Pickering hallway Tuesday morning.

Though their daughter arrived a little earlier than expected - two weeks before the due date - mom and baby are doing well and recuperating in hospital.

"This morning my wife she was feeling all these cramps and prior to that feeling pain and everything," Walters explains outside Scarborough Grace Hospital.

"We were trying to get ready to leave to the hospital. My wife collapsed on the floor and she was about to give birth and at the same time my mom walked through the elevator because I had spoken to her earlier.

"In the middle of the hallway our daughter was born and she was born at 1:45. And thanks to my mom she was there to assist me. It was unexpected and I was a little bit scared but we got through it and the baby is healthy and everything worked out to be great."

Mom is typically stoic after the big event. "I'm just glad that she's here and that she's safe and that she's healthy and alive," Cindy relates. "So that's the main thing I thank God for."

But the newborn's arrival wasn't quite what she was expecting. "I thought it was false labour," she admits.

A 911 operator coached the trio, including mother-in-law Monica Douglas, through their incredible - and incredibly fast - ordeal.

That 'operator' was Susan Ambler, on duty at the three digits in the wee hours of the morning. "With this little girl who was just raring to go, the head was visible. So she was well on her way. So when you first hear the baby cry and you know the baby is breathing and you know the baby is fine, that is a reward in itself."

Douglas is an old hand at this kind of thing - she once worked as a maternity ward nurse. "I put my hand on the tummy and then after I said, 'when the pain comes you need to push.' And I said 'push!' and the head popped out," the proud granny explains.

The delivery only lasted 10 minutes but things weren't so calm for the excited dad.

"After seeing my wife collapse on the floor I had to strip her pants off because my mom called me and called the 911 operator and they were coaching me and basically telling me what to do and in the midst of it to calm down," Walters continues.

"Being scared I wasn't really calm, you know. And she was telling me to be calm and what to do and my mom here was trying to help out at the same time. And unexpectedly the baby was coming full force. We wasn't prepared.

"I thought it would be a while before the baby was ready to come. I saw it coming out. After the operator was coaching me, she told me to press my hand so that the baby would not come out."

But their daughter had other plans.

"[Cindy] gave one big push and I put the baby on her tummy," outlines Douglas.

"We have to keep the baby warm and took my jacket off and wrap the baby. I needed something to tie the baby and [a neighbor] bring me a shoe lace.

"Two police officers arrived, then two minutes and two firemen arrive then the paramedic arrived five minutes."

The emergency crews rushed the family to hospital, where they are now recuperating. Both mom and baby are expected to be released from hospital on Wednesday.

Would you know what to do if you had to deliver a baby without a doctor or medical personnel present? Here's a possible guide. (Note: this information is not a substitute for real medical help. A qualified person should always be present.)

What to do if the baby comes early

Midwife demonstrates technique (Some pictures may be disturbing to sensitive viewers.)