Mom Says She Would Save Herself over Baby during Labor – Other Moms Slam Her for It

When a mom of four took to TikTok to share what she would want the doctors to do if she faced a medical emergency in the labor room, other moms bashed her for speaking her heart out.

A Utah mom, Shelbie Martin, often posts interesting videos on TikTok under the username @shelbielenora. As a mother of four kids, she shares her experiences on social media and posts videos that receive many views.

However, one of her videos on TikTok unexpectedly went viral after people disagreed with her statement. Her opinions forced people to take sides, and she later shared what made her think so differently.

The Viral Video

Martin uploaded the video on TikTok on January 11, unaware of how people would react. In the clip, which garnered about 2 million views, she was seen talking to the audience while a text appeared on the screen. It read:

"If during birth you have to choose to save me or the baby, save me." [sic]

By stating this, the mother meant she wanted the doctors to save her in case of an emergency. She would prefer saving her own life instead of the baby's, but other mothers disagreed with her opinion.

The Divided Opinion

Martin didn't expect her video to go viral or her opinion to receive a huge backlash. The comments under her post showed how people had divided into two groups: one who supported the mother and the other who strictly disagreed with her opinion.

After receiving demeaning messages, Martin explained that her opinion was based on her feelings after losing her mother.

While Martin thought it was okay for people to express their opinions under her post, she felt they could have phrased their words in a less hurtful way. Some of the comments were very harsh, and the mother of four thought she didn't deserve so much hate for expressing her opinions publicly.

A Sensitive Topic

Why did her TikTok video receive backlash? Martin thinks any opinion about children might spark a debate because every person has a soft corner for kids in their hearts. She believed it was natural for people to comment on her post, but she thought they could have been kinder. She said:

"I've been told I don't deserve my children, my children are better off without me, and a few things harsher than that."

The Backlash

After learning that Martin would want the doctors to save her life instead of her baby's during an emergency, netizens couldn't help but express their opinions in the comment section. Here's what some TikTok users said:

"I'm on my second and still say save my CHILD. Don't say you'd take a bullet for them if you can't put them first in ANY aspect."

― (@Renee Najera) January 23, 2023

"Is this a joke? Surely this is a joke, right?"

― (@Annabell) January 22, 2023

"If you're not willing to protect the baby inside you, then the ones at home are better off without you. #SorryNotSorry"

― (CleaningTikTok) January 19, 2023

"I would say save the baby. His life is more important than mine. And I do have other children."

― (@ScarletWitch9) January 12, 2023

"I have 4 kids at home and am 26 weeks pregnant. I would literally give my last breath for my kids if it ever happened. Save my baby. I couldn't go on." [sic]

― (@ABGA) January 12, 2023

Messages of Support

Amidst facing backlash from a massive chunk of her TikTok audience, Martin also received supportive messages from people who agreed with her opinion. Here are some of those comments:

"I agree, even without having children. Don't forget we are also someone's children. My parents can't live without me."

― (@Aylin Ürkmez) January 12, 2023

"I don't have kids, but if this happens, SAVE ME, I can make another baby, but nobody can replace me."

― (@NanaChann) January 13, 2023

"Even if I don't have babies at home, I'd still want to be saved."

― (@Afrikdemmy) January 12, 2023

"My husband needed me. Some choices are hard to make."

― (@Holly) January 12, 2023

"Always save the mom. A mom either has kids at home or a husband, parents, siblings, and friends that love them."

― (@Taylor Jane) February 5, 2023

Her Thought Process

After receiving demeaning messages, Martin explained that her opinion was based on her feelings after losing her mother. She was 18 when her mother breathed her last, and it was a heartbreaking moment that she'd never want to relive.

Thus, she wants doctors to save her for the sake of her four other children. She doesn't want them to face the trauma of losing their mother and spend their lives in her absence. She said:

"When I had my first child, my answer would have been to save my baby."

Martin also revealed that she filmed this TikTok video after watching another woman's video who said she wanted the doctors to save her baby first. Since Martin disagreed, she decided to make her opinion public, unaware of how people would react.

In the caption of her video, Martin said that her husband agrees with her opinion. The couple strongly feels there is nothing wrong in prioritizing the mother in such emergencies.

If you enjoyed reading this story, you might like this one about a mom-of-seven who hit back after netizens told her she'd never be happy having so many children.