Actress Coleen Garcia Crawford took to Instagram to share her birth experience with her and husband Billy Crawford’s second child, whom they welcomed on August 17.
They named their second child Austin.
“On August 17, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Austin, into the world. And it was the experience of a lifetime. 😆 The plan was another water birth—this time in @stlukesmedicalcenter,” she wrote on Instagram.
In a lengthy Instagram post, she detailed her swift labor experience at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
“We decided to go to the hospital when I was already in active labor, but after getting checked, we thought it was gonna take a lot longer since my water hadn’t broken yet, I was only 3cm dilated, and contractions weren’t painful or uncomfortable despite being so close together for hours,” Coleen shared.
“I was still walking around, killing time, feeling totally normal. After some time, they did start to get painful. I was then brought to the delivery room right away. When we got to the room, I stood up from the wheelchair, took a couple of steps toward the bed, then suddenly felt a tiny urge to push while I was still standing. I did once, just a little, for relief—until I felt his head coming out. I had to stop mid-push and say the baby was coming!” she added.
“My mom quickly got down to check, and true enough, part of his head was already out! On the next push, he slipped out so quickly that she was the one who caught him! In just two quick, silent, and surprisingly painless pushes, he was born EN CAUL(!) straight into her arms,” the actress said.
Coleen could not believe the delivery took only two minutes.
“It all happened so fast—I was supposed to get an IE, dim the lights, play some music, soak in the tub.. Instead, I gave birth like two minutes after entering the delivery room. I was still standing there in the same spot, looking down at everything—everyone in the room completely shookt—and all I could say was: ‘Well.. that happened.’ 😅 I was laughing about it, while my mom was stunned and holding the baby in disbelief,” she said.
The actress also shared that she was more prepared for this birth, in contrast to the experience she had with her firstborn son, Amari.
“My first birth caught me off guard and left me with some trauma because I didn’t know what to expect. This birth was the opposite. I was prepared with things I packed but never used, techniques I didn’t really have the time to apply, and plans that didn’t unfold the way I imagined,” she said.
Coleen, however, considered both births “special and beautiful in their own ways.”
“God carried me through each of those journeys just as He always does. I felt His presence all throughout, and it shielded me from fear and anxiety, reminding me once again that His plan is always greater than mine,” she said.
Coleen also shared the first glimpse of baby Austin, along with family photos.
View this post on Instagram
‘Incredible moment’
Several celebrities congratulated the couple and welcomed their second child.
“Congratulations!” actress Jessy Mendiola commented.
“Awwwww. congratulations billy and coleen!!” Miss World 2013 Megan Young said.
“Congrats Crawford family and Welcome to the world Austin,” actress-host Melai Francisco wrote.
Others were amazed by Coleen’s birthing story.
“I smiled while reading this Coleen! Congratulations mama you are amazing!! welcome to the world precious baby boy!” former beauty queen Katarina Rodriguez said.
“Wow! What a stunning and incredible moment! Baby Austin is pure perfection, and your testimony, your family… just wow! You’re glowing like a superstar even post-baby! Huge congratulations guys!” Starstruck alum Jewel Mische commented.
“His plans are always better. what a beautiful delivery. how special for your mama who caught her apo,” host Iya Villania wrote.
“Omg what a story!!!! Congratulations you guys,” blogger Kryz Uy wrote.
Coleen’s Instagram post has so far garnered over 1,000 comments and 460 reposts.
— Janelle Liong
