Male midwife helps deliver baby by the roadside

A male midwife helped deliver a baby by the side of the road in Marikina after the mother was unable to reach the clinic.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” it was past 2 a.m. when the maternity and lying-in clinic where Arvin Lucas worked received a phone call about a patient who was going to give birth.

“Hintay kami ng hintay, wala nang dumadating na patient,” Lucas said.

(We kept waiting but there was no incoming patient.)

This was because the patient they were waiting for had gone into labor before reaching the clinic, pushing Lucas and other personnel to deliver the baby at the roadside.

“So doon na po kami nai-perform ‘yung procedure. Hindi na rin po kami nakapag-face mask dahil ang priority namin, eh ‘yung kapakanan nung baby,” he said.

(So we performed the procedure there. We were also unable to wear face masks because our priority was the welfare of the baby.)

Lucas said he felt a mixture of fear and joy during the delivery.

“First time ko po magputol ng cord sa lansangan. Masaya po kasi nakaligtas kami ng ano baby, and masaya dahil pangarap to lahat ng mga midwife kagaya ko na, ano, success ‘yung mga pinapaano,” he said.

(It was my first time cutting the cord at a roadside. I’m also happy because we saved the baby, and happy because this is the dream of every midwife, that our procedure will be a success.)

At present, the baby is in good condition and has received its initial vaccines. It will also be checked for infections due to the delivery site.

“Mahabang nag-byahe kami. Parang lalabas na talaga, hindi ko na kayang pigilan, kaya doon na lang ako nag-ire. Inire ko na lang po para maligtas ‘yung baby ko,” Lovilla Naupan said.

(It was a long travel. It was like he was really gonna come out and I couldn’t stop it, so I just pushed. I gave birth so I could save my baby.)

The parents have expressed gratitude to Lucas and the other personnel who helped in delivering the baby.

For his part, Lucas said he was extremely happy as he did his best.

“Masaya po kasi ginagawa ko talaga ‘yung best ko na gawin ‘yung best ko maging best midwife. Gusto ko kahit lalaki ako, gustuhin nila ko dahil alam ko yung ginagawa ko. Alam nila na nasa best midwife sila,”  he said.

(I’m really happy because I’m doing my best to become the best midwife. Even though I’m male, I want others to want to hire me because they know I know what I’m doing. They know that they’re in the hands of the best midwife.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News