Mum, 24, reveals how baby’s life was saved by being born in his amniotic sac
Raelin Scurry, 24, a hospital research assistant, lives in Pennsylvania, USA, with her fiancé Ean Sr vanstory, 25, a warehouse worker, and their children
RAELIN Scurry, 24, is a hospital research assistant. She lives in Pennsylvania, USA, with her fiancé Ean Srvanstory, 25, a warehouse worker, and their children Amya, six, and EJ, six months.
“Holding my newborn son in my arms, I touched his tiny face. But instead of soft skin I could only feel slime – because he was still in his amniotic sac.
Four months earlier, in April 2017, my partner Ean and I told our daughter Amya she was going to be a big sister. We were all so excited, as Ean and I had been trying for three years to complete our family.
At first I suffered morning sickness, but otherwise my pregnancy went smoothly.
Holding my newborn son in my arms, I touched his tiny face. But instead of soft skin I could only feel slime – because he was still in his amniotic sac
Raelin Scurry
That was until the early hours of August 5, when I woke up with intense cramps. As the baby wasn’t due for 11 weeks, I assumed they must be Braxton Hicks contractions, but the pains became more intense, and I tearfully realised something was very wrong.
Ean said he’d drive the 15 minutes to the Magee-Womens Hospital. Clutching my bump, I cried as we got into the car and dropped Amya at her godmother’s house nearby. Once more I was hit with a horrific, searing pain, and I knew I was in early labour.
Trying to stay calm, I held on to the fact that my waters hadn’t broken and called 911, scared and desperate for advice. But I could barely say a word before another wave hit and I felt something between my legs. Handing my phone to Ean, I pulled down my shorts and underwear and felt our baby’s head. As another agonising contraction came, my body pushed him out and I grabbed him.
That’s when I noticed he was covered in a gooey casing – the amniotic sac. I was relieved he was still in there, as it was like he was still inside me. But knowing the sac could break at any moment leaving him struggling to breathe, I was gripped with panic.
That’s when I noticed he was covered in a gooey casing – the amniotic sac
Raelin Scurry
Ean was just as scared, but he immediately took control, as he knew he had to get us to the hospital as quickly as possible. First, though, I asked him to take a photo of our baby, as I couldn’t believe what was happening. All I could do was look down at our fragile newborn and stroke his face through the sac. With every touch he curled his legs up around him.
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As soon as we arrived at the hospital, a group of doctors who’d been alerted by the 911 operator ran out to the car. Gently taking the baby from me, they broke the sac and fluid poured out. That’s when we heard our baby’s first cries, before Ean Jr – EJ for short – was whisked away to intensive care. Doctors also checked me over and said I was fine, although I was emotionally and physically drained.
Two hours later I was allowed to see EJ, who was in an incubator, hooked up to a breathing machine. He weighed just 3lb 1oz, and it was another few hours before I was allowed to hold him. As I cuddled my precious little boy, the doctor told me the sac had saved his life as his lungs were so underdeveloped he wouldn’t have been able to breathe for long without help.
Amniotic sac facts
When a baby is born in the amniotic sac it’s called an “en caul” birth.
Fewer than one in every 80,000 babies is born in the amniotic sac.
Actress Jessica Alba’s daughter Haven was born in her amniotic sac in 2011.
EJ stayed in the hospital for 74 days. Leaving him there every night broke my heart, but he needed to learn how to breathe and swallow. There were times I feared he wouldn’t survive, but I always stayed hopeful.
We finally brought EJ home on October 17, one day before his original due date. We kept his homecoming a secret from Amya, so when she got in from school she had a wonderful surprise.
EJ stayed in the hospital for 74 days. Leaving him there every night broke my heart
Raelin Scurry
Now EJ is a healthy 13lb. He has a hole in his heart because he was born so early, and if it doesn’t close up naturally by the time he’s four, he’ll need surgery. Otherwise, he’s thriving and right on track with his development.
When I look back on the day he was born, it sometimes feels like a dream. But I know it was real – I’ve got the picture to prove it!”