12-Year-Old Helps Deliver Baby Brother; See the Emotional Photos

Melissa Willets
·3 min read

A Mississippi 12-year-old helped her mom's doctor deliver her baby brother, and the amazing moments were captured in moving photographs.

The emotional photos of new big sister Jacee Dellapena assisting her mom's Ob-Gyn were shared in a now-viral Facebook post.

Courtesy Nicki Smith

Although Jacee wanted to be part of the birth, new mom-of-three Dede Carraway hadn't exactly planned on her daughter practically delivering the baby! But according to MS News Now, Carraway's physician, Dr. Walter Wolf, encouraged the 12-year-old to get suited up and right in the middle of the action!

Courtesy Nicki Smith

"I actually, like delivered him, like, he let me actually push down and pull the baby out....I was like, wow, like I've played fake doctor before, but this is, like, the real thing, this is is the real deal. I was really nervous," Jacee told her local new station. Of course, Dr. Wolf was there to guide her hands and make sure baby Cayson was safe at all times.

Courtesy Nicki Smith

I found it interesting that Jacee had wanted to be in the delivery room to watch a middle sibling being born a few years ago, but her parents decided against it due to her age. Because my 8-year-old had previously expressed an interest in being in the room when her new sibling is born in a few months. I had been seriously considering it, but to be sure she would be able to handle the graphic nature of birth, I recently showed her a birth video. Um, that was it. She said, "Never mind!"

I'm sure some people think Jacee was too young even at 12 to be in the room during her brother's birth. But I truly believe this is such an individual decision that each family should make for themselves, judgment free!

Consider that professional chef Jamie Oliver's kids were in the room when their fifth child was recently born. And he has said it was a wonderful experience. It is also rumored that Beyoncé's 5-year-old daughter Blue Ivy is going to be present for her twin siblings' births, which could happen very soon! Of course, we don't know this for sure, and will have to wait and see what happens.

In this case, it seems the right choice was made by Jacee's family; as her mom told Fox News, "I don't even know if there are words to describe how it felt." Carraway added, "Never in a million years, if you would have told me 12 years ago she [Jacee] would be delivering my last born, I would have told you—you're crazy!"

If you enjoyed a family-centered birth, share your experience with us!

Melissa Willets is a writer/blogger and soon-to-be mom of 4. Find her on Facebook and Instagram where she chronicles her life momming under the influence. Of yoga.