History Main / BornInAnElevator

* Happened in ''Series/EarlyEdition''. The power goes off, and Chuck and some pregnant lady are trapped in an elevator. Chuck, unfortunately, has a weak stomach and passes out. Gary goes down the elevator shaft, delivers the baby, and leaves, leaving Chuck with the lady and her baby when the elevator doors finally open after everything gets working, making Chuck look like the hero.

See also {{Locked in a Freezer}}, InstantBirthJustAddWater, and ScreamingBirth.

[[quoteright:349:[[Series/SavedByTheBell http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vlcsnap_2015_07_09_14h50m39s236.png]]]]

{{Exactly What It Says on the Tin}}: a baby is born while the mother is stuck in a stalled elevator (births in the vehicle on route to the hospital also count towards this trope). Probably the most [[UncomfortableElevatorMoment uncomfortable of elevator moments]]. A classic SitCom scenario, especially when the baby has to be [[DeliveryGuy delivered by a squeamish and totally unqualified male lead]]. Cue the inevitable {{Crowning Moment of Heartwarming}}.

* The 'giving birth in a taxi' variation happens in an episode of ''{{Frasier}}''. However, in something of a variation it's the taxi driver's baby, not a passengers. Also, the two highly educated persons who [[NotThatKindOfDoctor added a doctor]] in front of their names were useless, while the retired police officer helped her through the crisis.

* In ''{{Vandread}}'', Kahlua a.k.a. Pyoro-2 was born in an elevator. [[TheHero The male lead]] is initially tasked with handling the delivery, but he manages to hand it over to his love-interest fairly quickly.

* This happens in the movie ''{{Blankman}}''.

* The going into labor in a taxi version is used in ''LookWhosTalking.'' (The taxi driver sticks around and the mother, who has broken things off with the baby's father, eventually falls in love with him.)

* Lucy and Kevin's daughter Savannah on ''SeventhHeaven''.
* Happened in ''SavedByTheBell'' with Mr. Belding's wife.
* Fran went into labor in a broken elevator in ''TheNanny'', but they got her out in time for her to deliver in a hospital.
* ''MalcolmInTheMiddle'': {{Lampshaded}} by Hal at one point. He saves a pigeon caught in plastic packaging at the side of the road, and says, "Well, I wanted to deliver a baby in the back of a taxi, but..."
* This happens in ''{{The Suite Life of Zack and Cody}}'', where the baby is born in The Tipton's elevator to a mother called Mary and a father called Joseph at Christmas. The theme was broken by the baby being a girl.
* Occurred in ''TheYoungAndTheRestless'', with Jack delivering Phyllis's baby girl (the father was Nick).

* Denise on ''{{Benson}}''.
* ''DoogieHowserMD'': Vinnie has to deliver his French teacher's baby in an elevator.
* An ''AllInTheFamily'' episode has Archie getting stuck in an elevator with several people, including -- yes -- a pregnant woman who goes into labor.

* Mrs. Kotter does this on ''WelcomeBackKotter.''
* Averted on ''KungFu: The Legend Continues'' when an elevator is stuck between floors with a visibly pregnant woman, a jerk, and Kermit Griffin, a tough guy. The woman gets upset, the jerk is rude to her, and Griffin threatens him for being rude. All are rescued, and the woman does not go into labor.

* ''PunkyBrewster:'' in an episode where Punky breaks her leg and Cherie feels guilty about it, at the hospital Cherie is in a stalled elevator with an expectant mother who is going into labor. Cherie helps with the delivery.

* The "birth in a vehicle" variation happens in the season three finale of ''Saving Hope.'' [[spoiler: Alex]] sits her surgical boards while in labor, then gives birth in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, assisted by Maggie.

* This trope is alluded to in EliteBeatAgents where a taxi driver is asked to take an expecting woman to the hospital. (However, regardless of whether he succeeds or not, she does not give birth in the taxi.)

* ''KingOfTheHill'': Bobby amuses himself by pressing the buttons for every floor inside an elevator, then gets bored and leaves. A few seconds later, a man and a doctor wheel a birthing woman into the elevator. The door closes. Ding... Ding... "WAAAH!"

* ''PunkyBrewster:'' in the episode "Ouch," in which Punky breaks her leg and Cherie feels guilty about it, at the hospital Cherie is in a stalled elevator with an expectant mother who is going into labor. Cherie helps with the delivery.

'''Sheppard:''' Sorry, it's just that when something like this happens in the movies, the pregnant lady goes into labor.

* ''NightCourt''. When Public Defender Christine Sullivan is pregnant but insists on working regardless, the others plan "Operation Stork" -- a ridiculous CrazyPrepared scenario should she suddenly go into labor. Unfortunately they forgot to include the elevator in their preparations.

* Alluded to in ''StargateAtlantis'' when a misfiring security system put the entire city in lockdown, locking in Sheppard and visibly pregnant Teyla alone in the lab.

* A ''{{Series/Mash}}'' episode has Hawkeye helping a pregnant Korean woman deliver (with no help from a squeamish Radar) while aboard a bus en route from her village to the 4077th.

* [[WizardsOfWaverlyPlace Alex Russo]] was reportedly born in a taxi.
* In ''MyNameIsEarl'', Billie goes into labor on the hospital's broken elevator (during Earl's coma dream). Earl has to help her...and he is proudly holding a healthy baby boy afterwards in the dream.
* ''HomeImprovement'' had a variation on this. Heidi goes into labor while she, Tim and Jill are driving through the middle of nowhere to go to an awards dinner and she gives birth in a roadside gas station. Tim becomes the DeliveryGuy.

* ''JoanOfArcadia'' features a quite cruel variation: after the baby is born, the mother refuses to look at it and demands it be taken away.

* If a heavily-pregnant woman is expected at some public ceremony- at least one reported on by showbiz or tabloid journalists- expect it to be claimed that she had an ambulance 'on standby', even if the chances of her going into labour that particular night were slim (and the fact that she was unlikely to deliver within minutes even if she did)

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* In ''ToCatchAThief'', Francie says she was born in a taxi on the way to the hospital.

* The going into labor in a taxi version is used in ''Look Who's Talking.'' (The taxi driver sticks around and the mother, who has broken things off with the baby's father, eventually falls in love with him.)

* This happens in the movie ''Blankman''.

* Mrs. Kotter does this on ''Welcome Back, Kotter.''

* ''Film/{{Men in Black}}'' has this with an alien giving birth to a squidlike baby in a car, starring Agent Jay as DeliveryGuy.

* Happened in ''{{Saved by the Bell}}'' with Mr. Belding's wife.

* ''{{Malcolm in the Middle}}'': {{Lampshaded}} by Hal at one point. He saves a pigeon caught in plastic packaging at the side of the road, and says, "Well, I wanted to deliver a baby in the back of a taxi, but..."

* ''{{Doogie Howser MD}}'': Vinnie has to deliver his French teacher's baby in an elevator.
* An ''{{All in the Family}}'' episode has Archie getting stuck in an elevator with several people, including -- yes -- a pregnant woman who goes into labor.

* ''{{Joan Of Arcadia}}'' features a quite cruel variation: after the baby is born, the mother refuses to look at it and demands it be taken away.

* ''{{King of the Hill}}'': Bobby amuses himself by pressing the buttons for every floor inside an elevator, then gets bored and leaves. A few seconds later, a man and a doctor wheel a birthing woman into the elevator. The door closes. Ding... Ding... "WAAAH!"

* {{Truth in Television}}: Actor Jack Lemmon was born in an elevator.

* In ''{{Vandread}}'', Kahlua a.k.a. Pyoro-2 was born in an elevator. [[TheHero The male lead]] is initially tasked with handling the delivery, but he manages to hand it over to his love-interest fairly quickly. (This is interesting because she, theoretically, shouldn't be any more qualified for it than he is, and yet she handles it like a pro simply on account of being a woman.)
** Couldn't it be the fact that he grew up on a planet where pregnancy, live birth, etc., doesn't exist? (Thus making him even less qualified than any random earth male...)
*** Given that Hibiki apparently ''fainted'' when he saw the baby, it's hard to believe that anyone else could possibly be any ''worse.''

** They did get to the hospital in time, probably because Conrad had the forethought to be in a taxi when he approached Miko-chan. One may still infer that he was prepared to do this; in fact he brings up his presence at Wolfram's birth to reassure Miko. (And his language is vague enough that [[CloudCuckoolander she replies]] 'your brother [[MisterSeahorse had a baby]]?!')
*** It ''was'' forethought, too--he'd probably been stalking her for weeks in case this or similar was necessary. That baby's going to be '''''his King''''', dammit!
** Amusingly, until context filled itself in, this scene lent itself to the easy assumption that Conrad was Yuuri's ''father''.
*** [[{{Squick}} ...and they're the most popular pairing among Japanese fans.]]

* Averted but referenced in ''Film/DieHard''. After Hans and his crew have taken the Nakatomi office workers hostage, Holly [[strike:[=McClane=]]] Genaro tells him one of them is pregnant. Hans immediately rolls his eyes, expecting this to take place before Holly tells him she's not due for a couple of weeks, but that she need something more comfortable than the floor to sit at. [[AffablyEvil Hans agrees, and has his mooks move a couch from the lobby to the main hall.]]

* ''Film/{{Men in Black}}'' has this with an alien giving birth to an octopus-shaped baby in a car, starring Agent Jay as DeliveryGuy.

* Happened in ''{{Saved by the Bell}}'' of course, with Mr. Belding's wife.

* Occurred in ''{{The Young and the Restless}}'', with Jack delivering Phyllis's baby girl (the father was Nick).
* Happened in ''Series/EarlyEdition''. The power goes off, and Chuck and some pregnant lady are trapped in an elevator. Chuck, unfortunately, has a weak stomach and passes out. Gary goes down the elevator shaft, delivers the baby and leaves, leaving Chuck with the lady and her baby when the elevator doors finally open after everything gets working, making Chuck look like the hero.
* ''NightCourt''. When Public Defender Christine Sullivan is pregnant but insists on working regardless, the others plan "Operation Stork" -- a ridiculous CrazyPrepared scenario should she suddenly go into labour. Unfortunately they forgot to include the elevator in their preparations.

* The 'giving birth in a taxi' variation happens in an episode of ''{{Frasier}}''. However, in something of a variation, it's the taxi driver's baby, not any of the passengers. And also, the two highly educated persons who [[NotThatKindOfDoctor pridly added a Doctor in front of their name was completely useless,]] while the retired Police Officer helped her through the crisis.

* Fairly narrowly averted in the very beginning of KyouKaraMaou. The scene (a warm conversation about baby names in the back of a taxi) is given without a shred of context; we work out who the principle players were in subsequent episodes, and see the scene again, de-blurred and with a lot more context, a long while later in a flashback episode.