A little girl has gone viral for her elated expression in the delivery room after helping her mother welcome her baby sister into the world.
When Kelsey Davis, 29, from Gilbert, Arizona, learned she would be having a third child, she made the touching decision to invite her oldest daughter, eight-year-old daughter Brooke, to help deliver the baby.
Photos from the moment have taken social media by storm, showing Brooke bursting into tears as she meets her little sister Summer for the first time.
Big moment: Brooke, eight, has gained fame online for her touching reaction to seeing her mother Kelsey Davis, 29, give birth to her younger sister Summer
All too much: Brooke helped deliver her baby sister and was overwhelmed by the experience
Happy family: Kelsey (right) explained to LoveWhatMatters how she had previously suffered three miscarriages
It was an especially pivotal role for Brooke, who had previously been left heartbroken when her mother suffered a miscarriage when Brooke was just three.
Kelsey told the story of Summer’s birth to LoveWhatMatters.com, saying that the birth was actually the second that Brooke had witnessed.
‘When Brooke was three years old, we surprised her with an ultrasound picture telling her that in about nine months she was going to be a big sister!’ Kelsey said.
‘I curled her hair, put some lip gloss on her, a pretty dress, and we went to a big field of grass nearby where I snapped some pictures of her holding a chalkboard that read, “I’m going to be a big sister!” We posted the pictures on Facebook and told all of our family. We were all so ecstatic!’
But then, just a few weeks later, Kelsey received the devastating news that she had lost the baby. Brooke was hit incredibly hard by the news.
Big sister love: Brooke has said to have experienced an instant bond with her sister
Excitement: When Brooke was just three years old (pictured) she was left crushed when her mom lost a baby
Mom and dad: Brooke’s parents suffered through two more miscarriages over four years, but decided not to tell Brooke
Growing family: In 2016, the couple welcomed Ellie (right) and Brooke was in the room for the delivery
‘She cried so hard and didn’t understand why. As her mom, I told her that God decided to keep the baby with him and that the baby was too precious for earth. That seemed to help her find comfort in the loss,’ said Kelsey.
Kelsey continued trying to get pregnant over the next four years and suffered through two more miscarriages. She and Brooke’s father decided not to tell her about these for fear of breaking her heart all over again.
Then, in 2015, Kelsey was pregnant again and, after holding off on the news for a length of time, they told Brooke.
On January 3, 2016, Brooke got her first sister, Ellie, and her parents let her stay in the room for the whole process.
Last year, the couple discovered that they were expecting to have yet another girl, and this time Brooke asked if she could be in the room again.
Helping out: For Summer’s birth, Kelsey asked the midwife if Brooke could help with delivery
Perfect face: Brooke was overwhelmed when she saw her little sister emerge
Stress over: The little girl was in tears and when mom asked if she was okay, she exclaimed ‘Yes! She’s just so perfect!’
Lots of love: Kelsey explained that the experiences has helped Brooke bond with her sisters
Future aspirations: Brooke has also decided to be a midwife when she grows up
‘I had a great idea that she could not only be there, but would be able to cut the umbilical cord!’ said Kelsey. ‘She liked the idea and at my next appointment I brought it up to my midwife. She said Brooke could even help deliver and catch the baby!’
When the day finally came, Brooke leaped into action. She helped make her mom more comfortable by rubbing her feet and her head and even danced with her mother to the baby’s heartbeat sounding out over the monitor.
During the birth, Brooke was there with her hands in her father’s to help catch her youngest sister as she came into the world. A few pushes later, Brooke was left overwhelmed by the sight of the baby girl. Luckily, a photographer was on hand to capture her tears of joy on camera.
‘After they placed Summer on my chest, I looked over to see Brooke just crying!’ Kelsey remembered. ‘I asked her if she was okay and she stumbled through tears when she said, “Yes! She’s just so perfect!”‘
Including Brook in the arrivals of her sisters, mom explained, has helped give the three girls a tight bond like no other.
Kelsey added that the experience of watching her sisters being born has even inspired Brooke to become a midwife when she grows up.