3 outrageous birth stories in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — You've taken Lamaze classes. You have bought and read every baby book you can get your hands on. But how much preparation can you really do? What if your labor does not go as planned?
From a baby who was delivered in a shopping mall parking lot to a woman who went into labor as the hospital is torn apart by a tornado. From a baby that was born during a hurricane to a baby that was actually born twice. Here are some unexpected birth stories that show the miracle of child birth:
Airport birth
During the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, one good news that spread throughout the world was that of Emily Sagalis, who gave birth to her baby girl inside the destroyed Tacloban Airport.
A makeshift medical center was created inside the ravaged airport, and her bed was a piece of plywood that rested amid typhoon debris. She named the baby Bea, after her mother Beatriz, who perished in the storm.
"She is my miracle. I had thought I would die with her still inside me when high waves came and took us all away," she said.
Quezon City Circle of life
In March of 2014, Janet Miranda had to give birth inside the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QMMC). She is a survivor of Typhoon Yolanda, and migrated to Manila after her husband and child died in Tacloban.
Out of kindness, they were taken in by vendors. When Janet was alone, her water broke and with it came her baby. Both mother and baby were healthy after delivery.
Delivery by phone
In November 2014, just as Typhoon Ruby was ravaging Lawaan, Eastern Samar, then 23-year-old Marilyn Ramonolos gave birth to her baby girl inside an evacuation center with the help of a doctor in Metro Manila.
The town mayor phoned the NDRRMC to ask for help, and the bureau sought the help of Dr. Ted Esguerra. With the help of nurses and a midwife, they were able to give birth as Dr. Esguerra gave instructions over the phone.
You can watch amazing childbirth stories from the Philippines and around the world on "Outrageous Births: Tales from the Crib" on Discovery Life. — Alixandra Caole Vila
