Doctor takes break from giving birth to deliver another woman’s baby

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 Photo: Facebook: Dr. Hala Sabry

Most women in labour arrive at the hospital focused entirely on the birth of their own baby. But not Amanda Hess.

When the US doctor was in labour recently, she took a break from her own birthing experience to deliver another woman's baby.

"You know, I love doing what I do," Dr Hess told WKYT. "I love taking care of mothers and babies and a lot of doctors are always thinking of their patients even when they're a patient themselves."

Ms Halliday-Johnson with her baby girl.
Ms Halliday-Johnson with her baby girl.  Photo: Leah Halliday-Johnson

The obstetrician was at a Kentucky hospital preparing to give birth to her second daughter when she heard another woman in labour screaming in that special way women scream when they're fully dilated and ready to push.

However Leah Halliday-Johnson's doctor was still on his way to the hospital and, as the umbilical cord was wrapped loosely around the baby's neck, midwives had asked the mum-of-four to try not to push. 

Dr Hess said she recognised the woman screaming as someone she had performed a check-up on a few days earlier.  

"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 and I knew her," Dr Hess explained.

"(Leah) was just glad to be able to get to push and have the baby out and not have to wait any longer," said Dr Hess.

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Ms Halliday-Johnson told People magazine her labour had progressed too quickly for her to receive any pain relief and she was extremely relieved when Dr Hess appeared in the room.

"I said, OK, it's great to see you. Can I push now?" Ms Halliday-Johnson said.  "She was in complete doctor mode. She just heard somebody needed help."

Amanda safely delivered Leah's healthy baby girl, and then a few hours later, gave birth to her daughter Ellen Joyce. 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how to multitask like a boss.