Metro News
Nigerian woman gives birth mid-air on Lagos to Brazil flight
In a remarkable turn of events, a Nigerian woman, Oyindamola Akinyera, gave birth to a baby girl mid-flight while traveling from Lagos to Brazil on a Qatar Airways flight.
Akinyera shared her incredible experience on Instagram, detailing how the unexpected delivery occurred during what was meant to be a honeymoon and baby-moon trip with her husband, David.
Cleared for air travel by her doctor, Akinyera embarked on the journey without any concerns.
However, a few hours into their connecting flight from Doha to Brazil, she began experiencing what she initially believed were normal pregnancy-related backaches.
In her Instagram post, Akinyera recounted how she first noticed discomfort while crossing the Atlantic. She tried to rest, thinking the pain was due to the long flight, but the discomfort persisted.
Air hostesses on the flight, whom she referred to as her “personal midwives,” provided her with exceptional care, even setting up a bed for her to rest.
As the discomfort grew, Akinyera decided to visit the restroom, accompanied by her husband. It was then that she realized her water had broken, and she was actually in labor. “I didn’t even realize I was in labor,” she wrote, explaining how she initially mistook the situation for constipation.
The flight crew quickly assessed the situation with the help of a fellow passenger who happened to be a doctor. They set up a makeshift birthing station at the entrance of the plane.
As they entered Brazilian airspace, Dr. Carolina, the onboard doctor, confirmed that Akinyera was fully dilated, and the baby was ready to be born.
With her husband praying by her side and the flight crew providing support, Akinyera delivered her baby girl just 20 minutes before the plane landed safely in Brazil. Both mother and baby were immediately taken to a hospital upon landing, where they received further care.
Akinyera expressed immense gratitude for the safe delivery, describing the experience as a “supernatural birth.” She thanked God and the Qatar Airways crew for their swift actions and support throughout the ordeal.
This incredible mid-air birth highlights the unpredictability of pregnancy and the extraordinary efforts of those involved in ensuring a safe delivery under such unusual circumstances.