Alyce Rotunda, with her husband Kevin Rotunda II The Rotundas recently had their fourth child. Little did we know, Matilda would show up in the McDonald’s parking lot! It just so happened that the birth occurred on a Sunday—and Alyce’s birthday. This serendipity contributed to making the event more special for the family. Matilda joins her three older siblings: Genesis, Kevin Rotunda III, and Boone.
The day Matilda was born, Alyce started having some still-scary-to-recall symptoms, like a migraine, sudden nausea, and intermittent labor-like contractions. Prior to her birth, though she had an induction booked a week later, she went into labor the day before her delivery. It was this unfortunate twist that landed her at Bronson Methodist Hospital. The arrival of Matilda proved to be far more pressing than expected.
On the way to the hospital, Kevin had the presence of mind to call 911 for help. Once close to their destination, the couple was directed by a dispatcher who assisted in navigating the surprise obstacle.
“After I stood up, I could feel things were happening,” – Alyce Rotunda
When Alyce started to feel Matilda’s head coming out, she told her husband to get ready.
“And so, I actually reached down and fully felt her head, like her head was already coming out at that point. And so I yelled to my husband, I was like, ‘You need to catch her right now,’” – Alyce Rotunda
Kevin was able to save Matilda “just in the nick of time.” After the surprise delivery, both Alyce and Matilda were quickly rushed back to Bronson Methodist Hospital to be treated. Luckily for both mother and baby, all turned out fine without any complications.
Looking back now on the experience, Alyce said it was “a complete whirlwind when she was born.” She told us that she felt the best sense of gratitude when Matilda just cried right after she was born.
“I’m so incredibly blessed and thankful that as soon as she came out, she started crying. So that was a huge sigh of relief on our end,” – Alyce Rotunda
Since Alyce has Type 1 diabetes, there was good reason to be worried about the delivery. She has a history of postpartum hemorrhage, adding to these concerns. She admitted things could have turned out otherwise.
“It could have just gone so different,” – Alyce Rotunda
In a good-hearted jesting mood, some relatives have given the little one the loving moniker “McTilly.” As Alyce settled the debate in favor of brevity, they’ll mostly just be calling her “Tilly.”
