Shaniqua Cherry was n't due to deliver her fourth child until late March , but the baby girl came early — forcing Cherry and the plane on which she was a passenger to make an unscheduled stop in North Carolina so she could give birth . Her boyfriend , Hassan Lulu , said he had fallen asleep Tuesday as he and Cherry were flying to Atlanta with two of her three children . 'She just started tapping me , ' the 25-year-old Lulu said . 'So I woke up and she told me her water had broke . I really did n't believe it at first . I was like `` Are you sure ? Are you OK ? You do n't think you can wait ? '' She said `` No , it 's coming now , right now ! '' ' Scroll down for video . Emergency landing : Shaniqua Cherry , 24 , sits in bed with her newborn daughter , Nylah , and her daughter , Malaysha , 3 , on Wednesday . Cherry gave birth in Greensboro after her water broke on a flight from Philadelphia to Atlanta that was diverted to Piedmont Triad International Airport . Lulu alerted the flight attendants , who used the intercom to ask if there was a doctor aboard the flight . No one stepped forward . The attendants then announced the plane would be making an emergency landing , Lulu said . 'Everybody was looking left to right , looking around , ' Lulu said . ' I was looking at people , everybody trying to figure out what was going on . ' American Airlines flight 611 from Philadelphia with 90 passengers aboard diverted to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro . An ambulance met them on the tarmac to rush Cherry to a hospital , but the baby did n't wait . Cherry delivered a 7-pound girl , Nylah , in the ambulance on her way to Women 's Hospital of Greensboro . All five family members were doing well Wednesday . Cherry said her contractions began as the plane took off . They were 40 minutes into the flight when her water broke . 'Yeah , I was kind of scared at first because I did n't know what was going to happen . I did n't want to have it on the plane , ' Cherry said . ' I was trying to make it to Atlanta . I was like `` I think I can do it . '' But it just got worse , so they had to stop . ' Lulu said the flight was on the ground within 10 minutes after the flight diversion was announced . 'And then I had her in the back of the ambulance on the side of the road , somewhere . I do n't know where , ' Cherry said . Advice on the website www.babycenter.com suggests that it 's generally safe to fly during the third trimester , but expectant mothers should discuss plans with a doctor or midwife before booking a flight . Cherry said her midwife told her that flying two weeks before her due date was fine . On its website , American Airlines says that on domestic flights under five hours , travel is not permitted within seven days before and after a pregnant woman 's delivery date . Cherry and Lulu tried to get some rest in their hospital room with her active 2-year-old son , Lamarion , and 3-year-old daughter , Malaysha nearby . Seven-year-old Dayquan was waiting for his baby sister in Atlanta with relatives . Cherry worked for the U.S . Postal Service in Minneapolis before deciding to move to Atlanta to be with her mother , who was having health issues . Lulu worked with his uncle at a smoke shop . They both said they would be starting fresh , and with a story to tell their youngest child in a few years . ' I 'm happy she 's safe , ' Cherry said . 'She 's healthy . I 'm exhausted , but happy that we have a baby . ' Family : Shaniqua Cherry , 24 , sits in bed with her newborn daughter , Nylah , boyfriend Hassan Lulu , 25 , her daughter , Malaysha , 3 , and her son , Lamarion , 2 , at Women 's Hospital of Greensboro , N.C. , on Wednesday . American Airlines flight 611 from Philadelphia with 90 passengers aboard diverted to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro ( pictured )
Shaniqua Cherry was n't due to deliver her fourth child until Tuesday , but the baby girl came early . Her boyfriend , Hassan Lulu , said he had fallen asleep late March as he and Cherry were flying to Atlanta with two of her three children . Cherry told Lulu her water had broke , then he alerted the flight attendants , who used the intercom to ask if there was a doctor aboard the flight . After no one stepped forward , the attendants announced the plane would be making an emergency landing , Lulu said . American Airlines flight 611 from Philadelphia with 90 passengers aboard diverted to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro . Cherry delivered a 7-pound girl , Nylah , in the ambulance on her way to Women 's Hospital of Greensboro .