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Pregnant Doctor Postpones Her Own Labor to Deliver Another Woman’s Baby

By Kelly Richman-Abdou on June 1, 2018

As an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Amanda Hess is no stranger to the unpredictability of labor and delivery. However, she never could have expected how unbelievable her own birth story would prove to be.

Hess was 9 months pregnant and preparing for the birth of her second child in July of last year. On her induction date, she checked into Frankfort Regional Medical Center, her place of work, as a patient, after taking her last call two days prior. As she settled into her room, however, she heard that a baby—coming quickly and with the umbilical cord around its neck—was in distress and the on-call doctor was on a break, prompting Hess to spring into action.

“I just put on another gown to cover up my backside and put on some boots over my shoes, to keep from getting any fluid and all that stuff on me, and went down to her room,” she told local news station WKYT. “I said you know, I’m not on call, I’m here in a gown, but I think we ought to have the baby.”

Thanks to Hess' quick thinking and selfless attitude, the patient gave birth to a healthy baby girl. And, with her job done, Hess returned to her room down the hall, where she took off her boots, got back into her hospital bed, and had her own little girl.

As expected, the patient, Leah Halliday Johnson, is nothing but grateful for Hess' unconventional role in her labor. “Pretty amazing what she did,” she told news channel Lex 18. “I feel very lucky she was there and the type of person she is and step up to do what she did. We really appreciate her.”

In a particularly inspiring birth story, pregnant doctor Amanda Hess delivered a baby moments before being induced, proving that some doctors are never truly off the clock.

Congratulations Dr. Amanda Hess: delivered a baby while she was in labor. Walked back to her room & had her own baby, a girl. 😷👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/9f9qBt7vzP

— BGSU Lady (@BGSULady) July 29, 2017