Wisconsin Mom Unexpectedly Gives Birth in Her Bathroom with Help from Her 2-Year-Old Son, Who Lovingly Calls the Newborn “My Baby”
When Shannen Krahn woke up one September morning, she didn’t expect her day to turn into a story straight out of a miracle book. The middle school teacher from Wisconsin was only 38 weeks pregnant and thought she still had time before meeting her baby girl. But in the early hours of that morning, everything changed — and her little 2-year-old son became her unexpected helper during one of the most unforgettable moments of her life.
Shannen’s contractions began mildly. She had felt small cramps before, but this time, they felt different. She tried to brush it off, thinking it might just be early labor that would take hours to progress. Her husband, Dylan, was nearby but had no idea how quickly things were about to unfold. Within minutes, the contractions intensified so fast that Shannen barely had time to move. She rushed to the bathroom, realizing she might not make it to the hospital. What happened next still brings tears to her eyes — her toddler, Bennett, stayed right by her side, calm and curious, as his mom went into full labor.
“I didn’t think it would happen this fast,” Shannen later told People. “Everything just came on so suddenly. One minute I was feeling pressure, and the next, I knew the baby was coming.” In those heart-racing minutes, Shannen leaned on instinct and faith. With her husband calling emergency services and running between rooms to help, their little boy stood close, holding her hand and saying the sweetest words any mom could hear in that moment: “You’re okay, Mommy. You’re okay.”
Within minutes, baby Alayna was born right there in their bathroom — safe, healthy, and with her family surrounding her in disbelief and joy. Paramedics arrived shortly after to ensure both mom and baby were doing well, and it was only then that Shannen fully realized how incredible the experience had been. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “We were just in shock. It felt surreal, but she was perfect.”
Perhaps the most touching part of the story came afterward. Since the birth, little Bennett has proudly referred to his baby sister as “my baby,” a phrase that makes his parents smile every time. “He’s obsessed with her,” Shannen said with a laugh. “He’ll sit next to her, pat her head gently, and say, ‘That’s my baby.’ It’s the sweetest thing ever.”
The Krahns’ story quickly spread beyond their Wisconsin town, drawing warmth and love from people everywhere who were touched by the simple, beautiful bond between mother and child — and by a toddler’s pure heart in a moment that could have been frightening. “He kept me calm without even realizing it,” Shannen said. “Hearing his little voice made me focus on staying strong and getting through it.”
For Dylan, the moment was equally emotional. “It was chaotic, but somehow peaceful,” he shared. “When I saw our son trying to help, it made me realize how amazing that little boy already is.” The family says they will never forget that morning — a moment that began with panic but ended in overwhelming love.
In a world where birth stories often come with careful planning and hospital rooms full of doctors, this one happened in the most unexpected place — their own bathroom. Yet it turned into something beautiful, reminding everyone that sometimes, the most ordinary spaces can hold the most extraordinary memories.
Now, weeks later, baby Alayna is thriving, and Bennett still proudly introduces her to visitors as “his baby.” For Shannen and Dylan, it’s a moment they’ll cherish for life — proof that love, instinct, and a little child’s courage can turn even the scariest moments into something magical.
