Couple delivers baby in GrabCar with driver's help: 'She was screaming through entire journey'

Couple Shawn Yeo and Ida Nee became parents to a baby boy in Grab driver Mr Yeong's car on July 7.

This is the third time a baby has been delivered in a GrabCar ride in Singapore.

Shawn had booked a JustGrab ride to Gleneagles Hospital at about 11am after his wife started experiencing contractions that Saturday morning.

The expectant mother did not expect to deliver her baby in the car but they were assisted by the help and advice from Mr Yeong who became their midwife on wheels.

"Ida experienced contractions at around 9.30am, and since our first baby’s labour process took almost 4 hours, we thought we had some time to head to the hospital," said Shawn.

"We even wanted to wait for my father-in-law to come home so that he could take us to the hospital. 

"However, Ida’s contractions intensified and we knew we had to go to the hospital as soon as possible. 

"Barely a few minutes within the car ride, her water bag broke.

"Armed with just a towel, we had to make do with whatever we had but thankfully, we were able to deliver the baby within the 20-minute journey.”

When they arrived at the hospital, there was a long line of vehicles at the drop-off point.

After Shawn hopped out of the car to get help, a team of about 10 hospital staff came to assist Ida and her newborn and took over the situation from there.

Recalling how nervous he was when he noticed Ida was in neighbour when he picked the couple up, Mr Yeong said he tried to stay composed.

"Mdm Nee was screaming throughout the entire journey but I did my best to stay calm. Thankfully, both the mother and baby are safe," Mr Yeong said.

"It’s not every day that you can say you helped deliver a baby -- this is a ride that I will never forget."

Shawn expressed their gratitude to their Grab driver:

"We are very grateful for Mr Yeong’s support during the tricky situation and for being so understanding even though we made a mess in his car. 

"We compensated him for the cleaning fees incurred and of course, gave him a 5-star rating as well."

Isaiah Yeo is Singapore’s third GrabBaby, the first GrabBaby was born on Aug 12, 2017, while travelling on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), and the second was born on Nov 21, 2017.

To celebrate baby Isaiah turning a month old, Grab organised a reunion for the passengers and driver at its office in Midview City on 7 August. Andrew Chan, Head of Transport, Grab Singapore presented Mr Shawn Yeo and Mdm Ida Nee with a Grab voucher worth S$8,000, and a special Grab onesie for baby Isaiah. Mr Yeong was also awarded with fuel vouchers worth S$800. 

"We are glad to hear about the safe arrival of baby Isaiah, and cannot be happier to be part of this meaningful journey! Kudos to our driver-partner, Mr Yeong, who was of such great help to the family," said Andrew Chan, Head of Transport, Grab Singapore.