Mom gives birth on the toilet in viral TikTok—and that’s not the only surprise

There are birth stories and there are BIRTH STORIES, amiright? Well this one surely tops the list, because it’s not every day a mom gives birth while on the toilet. And captures it on video. And goes viral for said video on TikTok.

Mom of 7 and influencer Ariel Tyson recently went super duper viral on everyone’s favorite video app for that very thing! In the clip, filmed in December 2021 but shared on TikTok just last month, Ariel is looking up at her husband, Michael, in what can only be described as wild-eyed wonder (aka complete and total shock) as the baby just comes right on out while she’s on the commode.

“Caught my 9 lb baby by myself over the toilet after a 50 min labor with only my husband there and that’s when we found out it was our 1st girl after 6 boys,” Ariel captioned a now-viral TikTok video.

“I’m so happy we caught my reaction on camera,” Ariel, a college professor-turned-influencer tells TODAY. And so are her fans: The footage has been viewed almost 30 million times and has nearly 4 million likes.

The most ironic part of it all is that Ariel had planned for a water birth with baby number 7. And she got one! Just…not the way she probably anticipated.

When she went into labor in the middle of the night, she called her midwife and assumed she’d be in for a long night. Because babies typically take their time, you know? But…not always! She didn’t even wake Michael up when her water broke.

Related: Dad captures wife giving birth at a gas station in viral TikTok

“I thought ‘What’s the point? We’re just getting started.’ And I prefer to be alone in the first part of labor,” Ariel explained to TODAY. “But things got intense really fast.”

Michael eventually heard his wife’s labor moans and went to join her in the bathroom. He was about to begin setting up the birthing pool they had on-hand for the occasion, but, well, the baby said “No time for that, Dad.”

“I sat down on the toilet because I thought I had to poop,” Ariel says. “Then I realized I was having the baby. I just reached down with my hands and grabbed her.”

Mila arrived on December 4, 2021, weighing in at 9 pounds (!!!). She joined her big brothers, Michael “Cale,” 11, Gabriel, 10, Judah, 8, Levi, 7, Zion, 5, and Ari, 2.

According to birthing community GatherBirth.com, laboring on the toilet allows you to be in a supported squat. When squatting, our pelvis can open up by 30 percent, which gives the baby extra space to engage with our cervix and keeps labor progressing smoothly. 

So, yes, it makes sense that some babies choose to unexpectedly make their arrival this way! Congrats to the entire Tyson family, and especially baby Mila.

A version of this story was published in December 2022. It has been updated.

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