Rushing to hospital in Sharjah, woman delivers baby in car

An Egyptian couple in Sharjah literally had a "moving" experience as they welcomed their third baby on Sunday morning.

Zainab M, in her 30s, gave birth to a healthy 2.6kg baby girl in a moving car as her husband Mohammad drove her to Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah, on Sunday morning. Although she started experiencing contractions and pain began in the early hours of Sunday, she wasn't sure if it was the right time to go to the hospital yet. However, when the pain suddenly increased, she decided to go to the hospital but it was already too late. Ten minutes into the drive to the hospital, Zainab went into labour and delivered her third baby - a girl - in the car's back seat.

Describing the incident, Mohammad said: "We are lucky that we stay just about 10 minutes away from the Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah, which is why we were able to at least reach the hospital premises when she delivered in the car. Although she told me she was having erratic pains since 4am, it was only around 10am that she told me to rush her to the hospital. I rushed her to the hospital even as she screamed in pain in the back seat of the car and we were just about a minute away from the hospital when the baby came out. I called her doctor over the phone and told her she had delivered. The doctor then guided me on what steps I must take to keep the baby safe."

Mohammad said that since they stay in Al Qasimia, he was able to reach the hospital almost a minute after his wife delivered the baby. "The baby came out when we were about a minute away from the hospital, so I called the doctor to ask her what to do next. She told me to rub the baby's back so it cries. I followed the instructions and reached the hospital's parking lot where a team from the labour room was waiting for us with their equipment. They at once cut the umbilical cord and took the baby safely, and rushed my wife into the labour room in a wheelchair," said a relived Mohammad.

Elaborating on the case, Dr Mona Zakriya, specialist obstetrician in Al Zahra Hospital, said that Zainab was 40 weeks pregnant and July 26 was the date of delivery given to her. "Although Zainab knew it was her date to go to the hospital, she delayed in coming as she was scared of getting induced pain. She already has two older children who were born in normal deliveries, but she said she had reached the hospital early and had to stay in labour for long hours before finally delivering. To avoid that she decided to walk a bit and take a hot bath so the process of delivery becomes easy."

Dr Mona said: "At 10am Zainab called me and said she was having contractions. I asked her not to wait or call the ambulance but to rush to the hospital immediately. Ten minutes later, her husband called me and said she had delivered in the car. So I asked him to rub the back of the baby so it starts to cry as that is an important sign of a healthy baby. By that time they had reached outside the emergency room and our team rushed to her car and cut the umbilical cord and took the baby and mother safely inside."

Luckily, since there was not much delay in reaching the hospital, both the mother and baby were healthy and were discharged in 24 hours after observation.

Zainab said her contractions and pain started from 4am onwards on Sunday. However, it was only at 10am that she realised that those were labour pains and rushed to the hospital.

Advising women never to delay going to the hospital if their delivery date is around the corner and they experience pains, Dr Mona, who said she has seen several deliveries in cars, said: "I would advise not to wait for several hours when they experience such contractions as this can lead to uncomfortable incidents of delivering in the car. It can be dangerous for the mother as well as the baby as there is a danger of the baby slipping and falling on the floor which can cause it head injury and trauma."

saman@khaleejtimes.com