August the 5th was like any other day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Raelin Scurry, then 29 weeks pregnant, woke up and started her morning chores. Suddenly, she felt some contractions. Dismissing them as Braxton Hicks, she went on with her morning routine. However, 45 minutes later, the contractions became stronger, and she knew that her baby was going to arrive. But little did she know that her baby was going to be born in one of the rarest fashion: ‘en caul’!
Ean Jr, the en caul baby!
An ‘en caul’ birth is when the baby is born with the amniotic sac intact. This rare phenomenon occurs in 1 out of 80,000 births. The water never breaks, and the baby is still safe and sound, getting the nutrition from the umbilical cord while being out of the uterus.
But, this is not all. Baby Ean Jr arrived in the most bizarre circumstances you can imagine! The mum delivered him while still in the car! And they were about 7 minutes away from the hospital. So she did what any mum would have done in her place – she held him and kept him safe!
She recollects her story on Instagram.
Raelin’s nail-biting delivery experience
“The human body is truly an amazing thing. 8.5.2017 at about 10 am I started having contractions. I was only 29 weeks and 4 days so I just figured they were Braxton Hicks and decided to wait it out. After about 45 minutes of consistent contractions that were increasing in intensity, I decided I should probably go in.”
She knew it was time to head over to the hospital.
“I grabbed my daughter, some clothes, (and) my fiance And I left for the hospital. I dropped my daughter to her God mommy Nicole And headed to the hospital. Well the contractions continued to get closer together and more intense and before I knew it I knew it was time to push. I called 911 because I was so scared. They couldn’t understand me between the screams with contractions. So I handed the phone to my fiance.”
Her worst fears were being realised
She was going to deliver the baby then and there.
“I pulled my pants off and reached down, sure enough, his head was right there. I pushed one time and my miracle baby was here. When I looked down I realized he was still completely wrapped in the amniotic sac. The dispatcher told us to pull over. But I knew we would make it to the hospital before they would make it to us. So I told Ean to keep driving. I was so scared. My Fiance was so calm driving and on the phone with 911.”
She was worried.
At first, the baby was still and all I could do was pray he would be okay. And then I rubbed his face with my thumb and he pulled his little hands and feet up to his face as if he understood my prayers and wanted to reassure us he was okay.
“About 7 minutes passed that I held this miracle baby in my hands until we made it to the hospital. A familiar face came running out and grabbed my baby. He was born en caul. This happens 1 in every 80,000 births. Usually during c-section.”
Thankfully, the baby and the mother are safe.
“He was 3lb 1oz. He is doing wonderfully all things considered all he went through! I know he’s going to be an awesome little man! He is truly a miracle baby. We are so blessed to be his parents.”
Hospital, finally!
They reached the hospital in 7 minutes. But I imagine that it must have felt like a lifetime.When asked, Raelin told me that throughout those 7 minutes, there was only one thought on her mind – “please, let my baby be safe”. Soon after they reached the hospital, the baby and the mother were rushed in.
The baby was ‘delivered’ out of the amniotic sac and was successfully transferred to the NICU. He weighed about 3 pounds 1 ounce.
.Ean Jr, named after his dad, is doing great. He may be discharged anytime next week, something his parents and his elder sister are looking forward to! Here are some of the pictures of the family.
We wish the wonderful family a lot of happiness and little EJ loads of love!
(Images: Published with permission from Raelin’s Facebook and Instagram account)
Also, read Pregnant doctor delivers baby moments before going into labour herself!
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