Doctor delivers baby while in labor herself
Even though she was due to have her own child any minute, when Dr. Amanda Hess heard that the baby of one of her patients was in distress, she threw on another hospital gown and got to work.
The Kentucky OB/GYN had just been induced at Kentucky's Frankfort Regional Medical Center in late July when she sprang into action, rushing to Leah Halliday Johnson's hospital room. "I said, you know, I'm not on call, I'm here in a gown, but I think we ought to have the baby," Hess told NBC News. The baby, Halliday Johnson's fourth, needed immediate attention, and not long after it was born and receiving care, Hess' contractions began in earnest. "I appreciate what she did for my family, and it speaks a lot to who she is as a woman and mother as well as a doctor," Halliday Johnson told NBC News. "It makes you feel better, bringing a baby girl into the world, knowing there are women like her willing to step up like that."
Hess had an inkling she'd be working late into her pregnancy, but didn't know she would wind up delivering a baby moments before she had her own. "Delivering other peoples' babies is something I do every day," she said. "And I'm more comfortable with delivering someone else's baby than my own, for sure."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Today's political cartoons - September 15, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - growing GOP concerns, a NYC dumpster fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 vice-laden cartoons about Dick Cheney
Cartoons Artists take on joyful feelings, dark endorsements, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Discover Ravenna's glittering treasures
The Week Recommends The 'magical' town is home to magnificent churches and excellent restaurants
By The Week UK Published
-
Netanyahu makes controversial address
Speed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published