They said my baby had no nose: Gospel singer Judikay recalls pregnancy scare
Popular Nigerian gospel singer Judith Kanayo-Opara, popularly known as Judikay, has opened up about a frightening pregnancy experience, revealing that doctors once told her that her unborn baby had serious health complications.
Speaking during their daughter’s dedication service held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the singer recalled travelling to Canada at 34 weeks pregnant in preparation for the birth of her child.
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However, what was supposed to be a routine medical check-up quickly turned into a distressing experience.
“At 34 weeks I had travelled to give birth in Canada, and when I got there, I went for the round of scans,” Judikay revealed.
According to Judikay, medical staff became concerned during a scan and repeatedly asked her to change positions as they tried to get a clearer view of the baby.
“I lay on the bed, and the woman kept on hitting my stomach. She would say, ‘Turn this way,’ and I would turn; she would say, ‘Turn again,'”she recalled.
Unborn baby’s health complications
Growing concerned, she asked the sonographer what was happening.
“After some minutes I had to ask, ‘What is going on? Why are you tossing me up and down?’ She said, ‘Your baby is not breathing,'” Judikay said.
The singer said the alarming news did not end there; she says the sonographer told her the baby had no nose and recommended a Down syndrome test.
“The next thing they know, she does not have a nose; the next thing they say, she has to do a Down syndrome test,” she added.
Husband’s reaction
Faced with what she described as a series of negative reports, Judikay said she immediately called her husband, who urged her not to panic.
According to the singer, her husband advised her against proceeding with additional tests and encouraged her to focus on faith instead.
“With the several negative reports, I called my husband, and he said, ‘You will not go for any test; tear that slip,'” Judikay disclosed.
Judikay revealed that after tearing up the referral slip, the couple dedicated themselves to prayer and thanksgiving.
“I tore the slip, and we entered hours of thanksgiving. Every day we would just be giving God thanks, and my husband would say, ‘We receive an excellent child; we receive a perfect child,’ and we insisted right there,” she stated.
Due date
Despite the troubling reports, Judikay said she remained hopeful throughout the remainder of her pregnancy.
The singer also recalled experiencing difficulties during delivery. She said her contractions were not as strong as expected, making it difficult to push the baby.
“When it was the day to give birth, I was pushing and expecting the contraction to come as heated as it should; it was not coming, but it was there but not enough to push the baby out,” she said.
However, when the baby was finally delivered, the family discovered the reason behind the complications.
Judikay revealed that the umbilical cord had been wrapped around her daughter’s neck twice.
“I pushed the baby with all my might, but when she came out, I saw my husband’s face like, ‘Devil, you have failed again. ‘ What had happened was the cord had gone round her neck twice; she had been strangled to the extent that she had even pooed in me,” Judikay testified.
Despite the frightening ordeal, both mother and baby came through safely, a moment Judikay described as a powerful testimony of faith and gratitude.
