Doctor goes into labor while delivering patient's baby
"I was freaking out a little bit," Dr. Emily Jacobs told ABC News.
— -- A pregnant doctor unexpectedly went into early labor while delivering another woman's child.
Hours later on July 28, Emily Jacobs, a 28-year-old OB-GYN resident at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, welcomed a baby boy, Jett Jacobs.
"I noticed what I thought was amniotic fluid of the patient as the baby was delivering," Jacobs told ABC News. "It wasn't until I left the room when I realized that it was my water that had broken."
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Lifestyle/emilly-richards-01-ht-jpo-190917_12x5_992.jpg)
"I was freaking out a little bit because we were still seeing patients and [my supervisor] just kind of smiled and told me to go back in one of the triage rooms and wait for her to confirm that it was my water."
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Lifestyle/emilly-richards-02-ht-jpo-190917_12x5_992.jpg)
Jacobs’ colleague, Keely Ulmer, MD, was “shocked” to learn her fellow doctor had gone into labor a month early.
"I happened to be on Labor and Delivery, so it was a pretty special experience to share with a special classmate," said Ulmer, 28, who helped deliver Jacobs' child. "She did a wonderful job and her husband was very supportive. I am grateful to be part of the experience."
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Lifestyle/emilly-richards-04-us-jpo-190917_31x13_992.jpg)
A first-time mom, Jacobs believes her unique birth story has made her a better doctor who is "more understanding" of her expectant patients, she said.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Lifestyle/emilly-richards-03-ht-jpo-190917_12x5_992.jpg)
"It's definitely made me more empathetic and more aware of what it's like going through some pregnancy complications," she added. "People will come in [who are] in preterm labor often ... very worried about the health of their baby and health of themselves. Until [I went] through it, I can definitely appreciate just how worried and nervous you get."
Now at 7 weeks old, baby Jett is home, happy and "doing well," Jacobs said.