Can you imagine? A pregnant British woman got off her London Underground subway train and all of a sudden, her water broke and she went into labor on the platform. Paramedics were called, who decided that there wasn’t enough time to get her to hospital. And 35 minutes later she gave birth to a healthy baby girl in the station supervisor’s office.

Even though millions of people use the London subways every day, she’s only the second baby to be born in the London Underground’s 125 year history. The only other baby was born way back in 1924 in a south London station.

That’s just counting regular operation of the tube trains. During World War II, the underground train tunnels and platforms were used as air raid shelters, for London’s residents to shelter from German planes bombing the city. Thousands of Londoners often had to spend nights underground and several babies were born in the tunnels. Can you guess who the most famous baby is? Jerry Springer – yes, the talk show host – was born in East Finchley tube station in 1944 at the height of the German attacks on London.

I wonder if this baby girl will receive a lifetime of free travel on the London Underground? That’s what happened to a baby born on a San Francisco’s BART train – the baby was given a lifetime pass to ride the BART trains for free, and some babies born on airplanes have been given a lifetime of free air travel. It’s almost worth having a baby in an odd place for the freebies!

I’ve had my water break two different ways: once by a doctor and once naturally. Since I was induced when my daughter was due, the doctor made my water break. With my second baby, my water breaking was my first big clue that I was in labor. Both instances felt very different, and if you’re wondering what it feels like I’m happy to share my own experiences.

When I was induced with my first baby the doctor hoped that my water would break on its own, but since it didn’t she did it with some sort of hook contraption. I don’t know much about the medical terms for the experience, but from what I understand she poked the amniotic sack and that broke my water. It didn’t hurt at all and the most notable thing about the whole experience was the gush of liquid that came out.

I was scheduled to be induced with my son, but the night before the appointment I was in bed when all of a sudden I felt a huge shift in my belly, as though he was giving me a bigger kick than he had ever given me. I swear I heard a little “pop!” and the next thing I knew it was as if I had peed in the pajamas. The next thing I knew, my contractions came full force and I was in labor. The water breaking didn’t hurt at all, but it was a little perplexing until I figured out what had actually happened.

My advice is to not fear your water breaking, whether your doctor does it or if your body does it naturally. I will admit that I was really glad my water didn’t break when I was standing in line at the bank or something, and that for the most part it happened in privacy.