SHAH ALAM: The experience of facing a nerve-wracking moment when his wife gave birth to their youngest child in the car on the way to the hospital will be a memory that Mohd Hafiz Hassan, 45, cherishes for a lifetime.
This was the situation he encountered when his wife, Associate Professor Dr Asiah Lokman, 41, gave birth to their son, Muhammad Ismail, who is now eight days old, in their Perodua Myvi on the Federal Highway at 7:20 am on 17 September.
Sharing his story, Mohd Hafiz said that he and his wife were on their way from their home in Kelana Jaya to Shah Alam Hospital after she complained of stomach pain.
He said that his wife was due to give birth the following month, but they did not expect their youngest child to arrive three weeks earlier than anticipated.
"At that time, we were fortunate that the highway was not congested and the traffic was smooth; otherwise, I don't know what would have happened, as the traffic on the Federal Highway is usually heavy every day, especially in the mornings.
"While I was driving, I heard my wife, who was seated in the back passenger seat, repeatedly say 'it hurts' before suddenly hearing a baby cry. At that moment, I was truly panicked; I never expected my wife to give birth safely.
"I was also in a dilemma about whether to stop or continue driving, as it would still take about 10 minutes to reach the hospital. My wife then asked me to keep going to the hospital, saying she was fine," he told Harian Metro.
Earlier, Mohd Hafiz shared his thrilling experience of the birth of his youngest child among four siblings in the car, which garnered significant attention on Facebook.
The bank employee stated that his wife, who is also a lecturer at a private university, gave birth alone and was conscious until they arrived at the hospital.
"The baby, still attached to the umbilical cord, was in my wife's lap, and as soon as we arrived at the hospital's emergency department, the medical team quickly attended to her. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and both mother and baby are safe and healthy," he said.
He added that the birth of his youngest child was the most special compared to their three other children who were born in a hospital. He is grateful that everything was made easy and that his wife is now recovering at home with their baby.
"That memory was indeed nerve-wracking, but it will be a moment I cherish forever. I appreciate and honour my wife's sacrifice in giving birth to our child, especially this extraordinary delivery," he said.