Strollerderby

How did she know how to push out the baby is an interesting question.  You know, people with good resources have access to so much these days - classes, training, a plethora of delivery assistants, medical and otherwise.  It can be hard to imagine how one could do without all that help, training and work! But, then again - humans gave birth without classes and training and bedside coaching for a long, long time.   Is it too much to think that our bodies, in at least some cases, might muddle on just fine on their own, and let us know what to do?

my thoughts exactly Leah. Plus way back in the day 12 year olds used to have babies all the time.

I do kinda wanna know how she told the lady at the front desk of the ER that she had a baby hanging out of her and needed assistance.

WOW WOW WOW!!!

I think lots of times the pushing happens instinctively, at least in part. In my labor, when the doc told me to stop pushing temporarily, I wasn't aware that I was pushing at all.

What strikes me is how scared she must have been! When she delivering her baby alone in her shower, she was actually MORE afraid of her parents than of childbirth. And I know that must be a lot, because the whole alien-busting-out-of-my-belly thing was pretty freaking terrifying! Not so much a question of "Will I get kicked out of my house?" More like, "Am I going to die NOW or in five minutes?"

Maybe some of the teen-brain invincibility thing was working in her favor.

Wow!!!  I'm 40 and know I would have freaked the heck out.  She's one strong kid!!!!

I agree this is an incredible story. But question 2 - well, that's not a real question, is it? How did she "know how to push" and do it without an epidural? Well, how did the human race survive until medical interventions became common in the 21st century - how do hundreds of thousands of women across the world deliver babies every year without training or pain medication?

A woman's body is an awesome thing - I'd be willing to bet that her "accidentally natural" childbirth left her in better postpartum condition than many women who give birth in hospitals :)

The human body will push the baby out on its own sometimes.  There have been many cases of comatose women delivering a baby early before the medical staff had time to react.  The uterus just pushed the baby out.  I am amazed she did not have a placental abruption and bled to death.  With the cord still attached she could have yanked a bit too hard and she and the baby would have died.  She should have cut that cord before she sprinted to the ER.  She was very lucky.  Younger women have excellent muscle tone so her pregnancy was probably not very evident if she was a big gal to begin with.  Cute baby, I am glad they are okay and that she sought medical care for him.  She is very brave.  

I agree with most of the comments here. I don't at all think it unfathomable that a woman could push out a baby without assistance. Our bodies are meant to do this. Aside from the fact that women birthed without medical intervention for so long, animals do it all the time and we are animals!

What I can't believe is the later part of the story-- not that I don't believe it, but yes, that there could have been a complication AND how uncomfortable that cord must have been, hanging out of her yoni like a super plus tampon not in the right place while she was jogging four blocks.... ugh!!!!!??

And I hate to say it, but I have known at least three women that were pregnant and you couldn't tell-- all the way to the end! It has to do with tummy weight placement and there are some women that just don't look like they are getting bigger because they already are big!

Cassie, you are so right... the cord could have been a short cord and yanked out. My sister's first baby's cord was so short that she couldn't bring the baby up to her until after the cord was cut. She could barely make it out without cutting... the second baby, seemed like miles of cord! Without a sonogram, you don't know and she had no prenatal care!

Sadly, my kid's 10 months and I pretty much look like I did at 7 months, so I can believe that part about hiding it. And some women are lucky enough not to feel it as much as the rest of us did. Very interesting story.

When I had my second son (at 38 weeks)just shy of 30 years old women in #1's gymnastics class didn't know I was pregnant.  And my muscle tone ain't what it used to be!

What a brave girl. I'm glad to read that both she and her baby are well.

I know we are animals, and that women have been having babies forever, but I am still thinking that I would not have done so well.  Most 17 year old girls might not be emotionally, mentally or financially ready to care for a baby. When it comes to the physical part though, aren't they likely to have an easier time than those of us in our 30's? The walking/jogging part is unbelievable. I can't imagine how scared she must gave been of her parents that she didn't just ask them for help. It's good to know that she was wrong about how they would react!

People need to stop embracing this girl and how irresponsible she is. This is nothing to be happy about, this is bad, this is what teenagers shouldn’t be doing. How strong is this girl if she couldn’t take the responsibility and tell her parents about it. I won’t even mention her intelligence. This is ridiculous.