Mom Shares Her Toddler Daughter’s Reaction to Watching the Unexpected Home Birth of Her Baby Sister

When 23-year-old Kansas mom Bella Thieme welcomed her second child, she never expected the delivery to happen at home — or for her toddler to witness it. Yet, what began as an unplanned event turned into one of the sweetest memories of her life.

On Aug. 25, Bella shared a heartwarming TikTok showing her daughter Alora’s reaction to the surprise home birth of her baby sister, Vivian. Set to Carla Morrison’s “Valentina,” the post featured two touching photos from that unforgettable day. In one, Bella cradled her newborn, writing, “Late night finds but it’s my toddler’s reaction to watching her sister be born at home accidentally.” The next image captured 2-year-old Alora beaming with joy as she met her new sibling.

Reflecting on the experience, Bella said she isn’t sure whether her daughter truly remembers it but loves the idea that the memory might stay with her. “I ask my toddler every so often if she remembers how her sister was born, and she says she does, but considering her age, it’s hard to tell,” she said. “I love to think that deep down she’ll always remember it!”

Bella, who shares her daughters with her partner Kaden Thieme, 22, said she’d be thrilled if her daughter carries that memory forward. “I hope she’ll grow up with a positive outlook on birth as she gets older.”

Now, with baby Vivian nearly 3 months old, Bella says the bond between her daughters is thriving. “My toddler loves to be helpful when I’m changing the baby, and during tummy time she loves to lay with her and show her toys,” she shared. “Having my toddler present during the birth really helped her bond with the baby more easily. She was saying ‘baby, baby, baby’ when she was born! She was so excited.”

Looking back, Bella says she “truly enjoyed” her unplanned home birth and found it surprisingly calm and empowering. “It was a great experience,” she said. “I felt like it was much easier to relax and let my body do what it was made to do. During the delivery, I tried to stay as calm as I could so my daughter knew this was a happy moment, not a scary one.”

As she plans for the future, Bella says she’d love to involve her children in future births too. “Birth is absolutely amazing, and children should be able to witness their siblings’ birth if they want to,” she shared. “I think it helps them learn that birth is a natural, beautiful process — the closest we’ll ever get to God on this Earth. Creating and birthing life is a true reflection of His work.”