My first child took ages to be born, so when it came to my second child, I assumed things would be the same. I didn’t take much notice when my contractions started (in fact, I went back to bed).
But I realised soon enough that my contractions were coming at almost five minutes apart — and that’s when my husband and I panicked. We lived in Bedok and we had to go all the way to NUH. My water broke in the taxi, giving the poor taxi uncle a huge fright. We were at NUH by 3.30am (I was fully dilated by then), and my Dragon baby was born in a flash!
When I came across Ryan Kwak’s story, it reminded me so much of my own dramatic second birth. Here’s the incredible story of how this (very handsome!) school principal delivered his third child on a pavement in Pasir Ris!
The gorgeous family, before baby made three! | Image: Instagram
Handsome School Principal Delivers Baby on Pasir Ris Pavement!
Ryan Kwak — a Korean-born Singaporean citizen — describes his wife Valerie Cher’s dramatic delivery in an Instagram post.
On 27 June (Wednesday), Ryan was awoken at 5.19am by Valerie, telling him she was in excruciating pain and that “the baby was coming today!”
He hurried out to get their car, which was parked just outside the home in Pasir Ris, and rushed back up to get his wife. But when he got in, he found her lying on the sofa groaning, “The baby’s gonna come out! I can feel the pressure of the head!”
He explains, “my words of reassurance of ‘Hang in there baby, you’ll be fine. We’ll reach the hospital in no time!’ was completely ignored at that point.”
He helped her down the corridor, but her screams of pain got louder and louder.
Then, he continues,
“Finally made it down the lift and what she said next left me stunned with horror: ‘The baby’s head is coming out!'”
He could literally see the baby’s head peeping out, and Valerie (or Cher, as he calls her), was by then bathed in blood on the roadside. To make matters worse, it was raining.
While Ryan was terrified at this point, he literally took matters into his own hands, and “delivered the baby right there and then”!
Their beautiful baby girl was born “in the rain on the pavement at 5:53am”. Mummy and baby were taken to hospital (KKH) by ambulance and are just fine.
The proud daddy wraps up his beautiful post with these words: “Even as I’m writing this, there’s still a crazy rollercoaster of emotions lingering on, but all that matters right now is the that my dear wife, who showed tremendous strength and courage, is now recovering well, and our miracle of a daughter is healthy ❤️”
Ryan is a principal and founder of SEJONG Korean Language School in Singapore. He migrated here with his family when he was just six years old. He and Valerie are also parents to two beautiful boys.
Kudos to this (we repeat, handsome) hands-on dad. We wish you and your beautiful family all the very best!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkhmhbkHtAg/?taken-by=kwakseonghoon
Do You Know How to Handle an Emergency Delivery?
How do you know if the baby’s coming quickly and you won’t make it to the hospital?
Well, if you’re having strong contractions that occur three to four minutes apart, your water has broken and you have a really strong urge to push, you are probably experiencing signs that delivery is imminent.
In case of such an emergency situation:
- Call the emergency ambulance (995). If you are in a car, it is advisable to pull over; it’s safer to have the baby in the car while it’s stopped.
- Don’t panic. Remaining calm can help you focus on the birth. Also, babies that arrive quickly usually deliver with ease.
- Grab whatever clothing or blankets you have, and place them nearby.
- If you feel a strong urge to push, try to put it off by using breathing techniques, or lying on your side. Be sure to lie down or sit propped up. If you deliver standing up, your baby could fall and suffer a serious injury.
- The baby’s head will come out first. Do not pull on the baby or its head; gently guide him out, pushing during your contractions. There may be a pause before the body emerges. Make sure the baby doesn’t fall on the floor!
- Once the baby comes out, place him skin-to-skin on mummy, with the baby’s head slightly lower than it’s body (to help facilitate draining the mucus). Cover both of them with dry blankets or towels.
- A gush of blood and fluid will follow the baby.
- The placenta takes five to 30 minutes to come out. Do not pull on or cut the umbilical cord. The baby can remain attached to the umbilical cord until after the placenta has been delivered.
- If your baby doesn’t cry spontaneously at birth, stimulate him by firmly rubbing up and down his back.
- Make your way to the birth center or hospital by ambulance.