Health
Woman gives birth while asleep, finds newborn under blanket
By Adetutu Sobowale
A 27-year-old Canadian mother, Carolina Moreno, has shared the extraordinary story of how she unknowingly gave birth while asleep during labour.
Moreno described the experience as one of the most traumatic moments of her life.
In a video trending on TikTok on Tuesday, she revealed that she was not awake when her third child was born.
In the video, Moreno recounted how she was admitted for an induced labour after testing positive for Group B Streptococcus, a bacterial infection that required doctors to administer antibiotics before breaking her water.
Unlike her previous pregnancies, she said she was already three centimetres dilated with a thinning cervix when she arrived at the hospital, prompting medical staff to begin treatment immediately.
According to her, a few hours later, her water was broken and labour was induced with Pitocin, a medication used to stimulate contractions.
Moreno said the contractions soon became uncomfortable because her baby was not in an ideal position, prompting her to request an epidural.
Although the pain relief initially appeared ineffective, she repeatedly activated additional doses until she finally became comfortable enough to fall asleep.
Her husband, sister and cousin remained in the delivery room while nurses continued routine checks on the baby’s heartbeat.
Speaking to People magazine, Moreno explained that the baby’s heart monitor alarm sounded several times because the unborn child was very active and frequently shifted position.
“The alarm went off on the monitor, which happens when the heartbeat isn’t found, so my nurse came in to find it again.
“This had happened several times; my baby was very active and he liked to move,” she said.
She recalled that she initially remained asleep because such interruptions had happened before.
“Sometimes I’d adjust myself, and I’d move the monitor by accident, so we weren’t overly worried when she initially came in, and I was still pretty asleep,” she said.
“But as the minutes passed, I started to get worried because obviously she’s not finding him… that’s when I really woke up,” she added.
As medical staff struggled to detect the baby’s heartbeat, panic set in.
Moreno said the nurse asked her to turn onto her back while continuing to search for the baby.
Moreno recalled in her TikTok video, “When I turn on my back, her hands are still on my stomach, and that’s when she points out that my stomach feels really weird.
“In that moment, I don’t know why I just thought, my baby’s dead.”
As she attempted to move her legs, she felt something lying on the bed beneath the blankets.
“I swear I thought it was gonna be like my placenta or my uterus had popped out… I never thought it was going to be my baby.
“And [the nurse] lifts up the blanket, and my son is face down under all of my blankets,” she said.
The newborn was lying silently beneath the covers.
She stated, “He’s face down. He’s not crying. And I just panic. I freak out.
“Obviously, you see a baby, and he’s not crying… That’s everything a newborn shouldn’t be. So I was really scared. I didn’t think he was alive.”
The nurse immediately picked up the baby and stimulated him until he cried.
“I am screaming. I screamed at my husband,” Moreno said.
“He thought he missed the birth. He just didn’t realise we all missed the birth.”
Although the baby quickly responded, Moreno said she struggled to process what had happened and remained deeply shaken by the experience.
Reflecting on the birth, she later explained that the frightening situation resulted from the fact that her son had delivered himself without anyone immediately realising.
“It was a huge shock to find him… turns out he was sleeping, and he’s just a very chill baby.
“The nurse didn’t deliver him; he delivered himself.
“We had no idea he was even out, which is actually what made it so scary at first, since they couldn’t find his heartbeat, since he wasn’t in me anymore. We just thought something horrible had happened,” she told People.
Now three months old, Moreno said her son is healthy and thriving.
“He’s absolutely amazing and was born in perfect health,” she said.
“He’s also our easiest baby and the adjustment has been seamless.”
She added that, looking back, her son’s calm temperament explains why he remained so quiet after birth.
“It was incredibly scary finding him on his stomach under the blankets, not crying, but now that we know his personality, it really makes sense, he’s just the most calm baby,” she said.
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