A young mother, Nkechi Okechukwu has narrated how she delivered her baby in a cab by herself; while she was stuck in Lagos traffic. She shared her story on Instagram. Okechukwu explained that she began feeling contractions around 6:30 am; she had thought that they were only cramps. Then at about 6:50 am, she decided to head to Eko Hospital with her husband. Nkechi said the traffic was heavy from Ogba to their destination so they decided to take another route around Oregun, but there was still traffic. This is a cute little story of how to deliver a baby in a car, and it comes with lessons. Keep reading.
How To Deliver A Baby In A Car: Baby Jaron Makes His Grand Entrance In The Cab!
By 7:30 am, her water broke; she informed her husband and the cab driver so that they would not panic more than was necessary. At this time, Nkechi already knew her baby was coming and nothing would stop him. They called a doctor friend who advised her not to have the baby until they got to the hospital; but by then she could feel the head. After her next contraction and groan, her baby came out without difficulty.
Okechukwu called her husband's attention and let him know that the baby was out. She added that she was sure that they had already traumatized the driver at that point. According to her, before her son came out she prayed to God that he should come out crying, hale and hearty. And he did. The woman thanked God for safe delivery, and she revealed that her son was named Jaron Ikechukwu Wonderful. And that is how to deliver a baby in a car! No, it's not. There's the part where medical experts took over and you can read that in Nkechi's personal account on Instagram.
Tips For Delivering A Baby In A Car Or At Home: What To Do In An Emergency Birth
We've all probably seen it in movies, TV shows, and even social media news feeds: A woman goes into labour so fast that she doesn't have time to get to the hospital before the baby comes out; and a non-medical professional has to assist in the delivery. In real life though, the scenario is likely but very rare. Most women take hours in labour, especially when it's their first baby. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared. so we've put together everything you should know if you ever find yourself in this situation.
Analyse your situation
How are you so sure that baby's coming quickly and you won't make it to hospital? If you’re having strong, frequent contractions (generally less than five minutes apart); or if your water has broken and you have a strong urge to push, these are signs that delivery is close.
Call Somebody
These days, many women have their healthcare providers on speed dial. You could call your doctor, your husband or a close friend. No matter what happens, after, you need to be sure that help is on the way. And unlock the door while you still can, so that people have unhindered access to you when they arrive. If you are driving, pull over and put your hazard lights on. You don't want to risk an accident.
Give yourself a pep talk
This is happening! You've waited for this for what seemed like ninety months, and now the moment has come. You may be a little afraid because you're alone, but relax. This is natural and your body can handle this. Understand that babies who arrive quickly typically don’t encounter serious problems since they’re positioned in the ideal head down position. That’s why they’re raring to go!
More Tips For An Emergency Birthing Experience
Get comfortable
Wash your hands and your vaginal area with soap, or use wipes or hand sanitizer. Grab a bucket of warm water and at least four clean towels. You'll need them to wipe your baby down and keep him warm. Then, lay clean sheets, towels or a waterproof covering like a plastic bag or shower curtain over your bed or on a rug on the floor. The best position is whatever is most comfortable; however, if you're alone and need to lie down, try to prop yourself up with a bunch of pillows. In this position, you can also easily reach down with both hands and help ease your baby out.
Try not to push until you must
You don't want to push, since you're alone, and risk having tears or hurting baby. Just pant instead, so you don't add to your internal pressure. Once your baby begins to arrive, ease him out gently by pushing each time you feel the urge. Once your baby's head becomes visible, gently press your hands against your perineum (the area between your vagina and anus) to keep the head from popping out too fast. Do not pull; just guide baby out gradually.
If you find the umbilical cord around your baby’s neck, hook a finger under it and slowly loosen it enough to ease it over his head. Once the head is out, gently push it slightly downward while pushing with the next urge. This should deliver the shoulders; the rest of the body should come easily after that.
How To Deliver A Baby In A Car: What to do once the baby comes out
- Towel him off and bring him up onto your belly or chest; skin-to-skin contact will keep him warm and calm, and wrap him with a clean towel.
- Wipe baby's mouth and nose, and run your fingers from the corners of the eyes down the outsides of baby's nostrils.
- Then vigorously rub the sides of the back on the rib cage up and down; at about the pace and pressure of washing your hair. Keep the head lower than the feet until baby starts breathing.
- Most babies will start to breathe on their own without any intervention or stimulation. If your baby needs help breathing, clear out his mouth some more with a finger, then give two quick and gentle puffs of air into the mouth and nose.
- Once baby is calmly breathing on his own, guide his mouth to your nipple to initiate breastfeeding. This will prompt your body to release more oxytocin; a hormone that will cause your uterus to contract further so it should expel the placenta on its own in anywhere from five to 30 minutes or more.
Don’t cut or tie the umbilical cord
Cutting the cord yourself in a sterile fashion may be difficult. because you could expose your baby to infections. Also, at the time of birth, about 30 percent of your baby’s blood is still in the placenta, which can give him two to five minutes of oxygen. This can be lifesaving if he hasn’t started breathing on his own and the health experts haven’t arrived yet. So with the cord attached, wrap the placenta in a clean towel elevated above the level of baby, if possible, and wait for help.
Bottom line: When in doubt, do nothing. Your body and baby can do a lot more on their own than you might think!
Legit NG Web MD
Also read: How To Give Birth With Ease: 9 Secret Tips To Speed Up Your Delivery
