Mom Divides Opinions Online By Asking Her Spouse To Save Her Over Their Baby In Case Of Labor Complications

Aug 07, 2023

From conception to the day of delivery, the state of being pregnant is a delicate one that requires a painstaking approach. Expectant moms are known to be careful with their lifestyle once they learn about pregnancy. Such careful steps are often taken regarding nutrition, clothing, exercising, prenatal care, labor training and the day of labor. 

While experts like Mary Jane Minkink, a professor at Yale School of Medicine, have shared that such cases were rare, some expectant moms put into perspective the possibility of a birth complication that could result in choosing between the mother and the child.  

TikTok user Anabel Morales broached this topic on her timeline when she addressed her spouse in a short clip, telling him to save her in place of their newborn. Morales made the post under her username Anabel Leon in February 2023, and the post gained traction among other TikTokers leading to a divide in feelings of people online.  

The very short video, filmed with a blurry filter, showed what appeared to be Morales' room at the hospital. She had a nose mask in place as she lay on the bed and while panning the camera in a selfie-style video. The expectant mom's spouse sat on a chair on one end of the bed and waved to the camera towards the end. Morales penned over the clip:

"To my husband: If I'm giving birth and the doctor says you need to pick between me or the baby, please save me. I don't want Ethan to grow up without a mom & I don't want you to have to raise 2 babies alone while also grieving your wife."

Morales' post gained millions of views, and many media users flooded her comment section with various opinions. While some reflected and concurred with her voice, others gravitated toward the opposite. One person wrote: "I never thought of it this way! And now I completely agree." 

Someone affirmed, "A lot of people think it's selfish, but it isn't." One follower said about her spouse, "My husband always said, 'We can have another baby, but our kids who are already on earth can't replace you.🥺'"

Someone echoed the same sentiment: "I used to say save the baby, not me. now that I have a daughter, I think so differently!" One user opposed, "Agree to disagree 😳 the baby is full term with save my baby." One mom chimed: "I have always asked my partner to pick my baby, but I never thought what my family would feel without me 🥺 maybe they would be better off 🥺." Someone referred to the situation as a "tough call," while more comments deliberated on what they would choose. 

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Morales shared that although she and her spouse tried so much for a baby, they currently had one child. She noted that she started thinking of the grim possibility of choosing between her and her unborn child because of her other kid. Morales agreed that the discussion of death should not come up among women who are not high-risk. However, she believed expectant parents should discuss it to know what to do in case.   

She also spoke to other outlets, noting why she felt there was a lot of controversy surrounding her voice. Morales stated that she believed many people did not understand that even though she chose to be saved, it was a tough decision. 

What do you think about Anabel Morales' hypothetical choice? What would you decide with your partner if this conversation came up? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to others.