An unmedicated mum gave birth in just 40 seconds when her baby “shot out” – because of a medical rarity.
Cianna Gonzalez, 24, experienced the Ferguson reflex when the body ‘expels’ a child.
Also known as the fetal ejection reflex, it is often seen in home births – but rarely in a medical setting.
Stay-at-home mum Cianna, from Philadelphia, says she felt her son “descending” without control.
And he just slipped out after a three-hour labor – where he was caught by a midwife.
READ MORE: Mom claims six-week-old baby said ‘hello’ and is ‘world’s youngest talker’
Named after the Scottish obstetrician Robert Ferguson, it’s a natural response in which the body takes over the process of birthing, effectively expelling the baby without conscious effort from the mother. In simple terms, it’s like a sneeze – once it starts, there’s no stopping it. This reflex is often associated with home births, but it is exceedingly rare in a clinical setting.
Gonzalez recounted her astonishing experience during labor.
At 38 weeks into her second pregnancy, she initially mistook her contractions for Braxton Hicks.
However, when she contacted the birthing center and was told she was in labor, she went into a birthing pool. What followed was a surreal and rapid event.
Gonzalez said she felt her son descending.
She further shared: “I was screaming ‘he’s coming.’ My baby shot out completely voluntarily. I did not have to push him out; he came out on his own. He came out in less than 40 seconds.”
This astonishing speed of childbirth left Cianna in awe. Her baby was caught by a midwife. Cianna said: “I was anxiety-ridden in the moment. I thought who is going to catch this baby? It was very natural and very fast.”
Cianna’s second son was born on August 8, 2022, weighing 7lbs 5oz, at 10:35 am.
She believes that her ability to relax triggered the Ferguson reflex and allowed the extraordinary birth to unfold.
She said: “It was very intuitive on the baby’s end. It was incredible. I didn’t know I could do that or the baby could. He was on his own timing.”
Cianna did not experience the Ferguson reflex during the birth of her first child in 2021, making this experience all the more remarkable. She credits this positive birthing experience with providing her with newfound confidence and excitement for her second birth.
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews
