A new mom from New Brunswick took the trip of a lifetime Wednesday when she gave birth aboard the Grand Manan ferry.

Tanai Sears went to the hospital on Grand Manan Island when she went into labour, but the hospital isn’t equipped to deliver babies.

Most women are flown to the mainland or take the ferry a few days before their due date, but Sears wasn’t due until Dec. 20 so she thought she still had time.

“We were headed to the boat and turned around and headed to the hospital and I was 3 centimetres dilated, so we figured we had time to get from that hospital to [the Saint John Regional Hospital],” says Sears.

There was talk of airlifting Sears to Saint John, but she thought she had enough time to take the ferry.

Her baby, however, had other plans.

“I went from 3 centimetres to 8 centimetres and by the time we were docked I was 10 centimetres and ready to push,” says Sears. “It happened really fast. I had no pain meds. Even though I wanted them, I couldn’t have them.”

Paramedics had arrived at the dock in Blacks Harbour with an ambulance, but the baby was already on its way.

“I got checked and I was 10 centimetres and they said they couldn’t move me, so we kind of held up the boat for a good hour,” says Sears.

As the Grand Manan Adventure docked in Blacks Harbour, and with the help of a doctor who was onboard, Sears gave birth to a baby girl in the ferry’s hospital room.

“They put her on me and I just wanted to cry I was so happy. I seen her little face,” says Sears. “They couldn’t even wash her off. They took toilet paper and wiped her off, so she had clumps of toilet paper all over her.”

While Baby Jayla was being born, Sears’ mother was at the Saint John Regional Hospital, waiting for her daughter so she could witness the birth of her first grandchild.

“I got a frantic phone call from the sister-in-law saying ‘Tanya’s 8 centimetres dilated, we’re on the boat, there’s an ambulance waiting,’” says Nancy Crawford. “I flew out of work, sat up here for an hour and watching my watch, where are they? Where are they?”

As time passed, Crawford started to worry.

“My phone wasn’t working so I managed to get a phone call out and they said … ‘everything’s good,’ and I said ‘Ok, let’s back up a little bit. Where is my daughter?’ And she delivered on the boat.”

After the birth, Sears and Baby Jayla – weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces -- were taken to the Saint John Regional Hospital, where they spent two nights.

Sears says they are both happy and healthy and eager to make the ferry trip back home to Grand Manan on Friday.

Ferry crews say they are planning a warm welcome for the little girl who made her grand entrance on the Grand Manan Adventure.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford