Pregnant woman had no one around to help when her water broke — her dog stepped up in a way she never expected
The morning had just started for this young pregnant woman when everything began to shift. It was early when the first text went out, 8:18 a.m. to be exact, as reported by Newsweek on Monday, November 24, 2025. Her water had broken when 22-year-old Jenna Hadley was at home in the U.K. on an ordinary morning with her children and her dog, unaware that the next few minutes would be extraordinary. She also shared a one-of-a-kind experience in a TikTok video on October 21, 2025.
While her partner fired off panicked questions over text, Jenna was moving through something far more urgent. At 8:25 a.m., she sent her mother a short message: “Get here now.” But within minutes, at 8:39 a.m., she wrote again, “Don't worry, I’ve given birth,” attaching a photo of the newborn. Her daughter, Kathleena Jane, arrived at 8:31 a.m. As Jenna shared in her TikTok post, viewed more than 5 million times, the birth took place “next to a Cane Corso.”
Zels, their large Cane Corso-Shar Pei mix, known for their imposing size and protective nature, stood by her with the sort of quiet instinct that feels warm. “The dog behaved so well, he was gentle and knew something wasn't right. He sat next to me and offered so much comfort,” she told the outlet. “When she was actually born, he was very gentle and stayed still.”
This was her fifth child, and she felt certain the dog somehow understood the gravity of the moment. Even when the paramedic reached the door, Zels didn’t bark, just watched, guarded, and steady. In the TikTok comments, Jenna summed up her situation: she didn’t care who made it to her side; she just wanted someone. “And I got a 60kg dribbly dog and a 2-year-old with autism as a birthing partner!”
A friend arrived shortly after, and within minutes, the ambulance was there. Because the baby was “slightly premature,” both mother and newborn were taken to the hospital for extra checks. Forty-eight hours later, they returned home. What many didn’t expect was how naturally a dog could settle into such a moment, but research offers a glimpse of why Zels behaved the way he did.
A study published by the National Library of Medicine in July 2022 on examining dogs’ physiological responses during interactions with humans found that dogs become calmer as they grow familiar with a person and environment. As their comfort increases, their heart rate decreases, and their heart rate variability rises, signs of calm and relaxation. The study also noted that familiarity mattered more than brief emotional cues, suggesting that a dog’s steady bond with its family plays a key role in how it responds during stressful situations.
The reaction of internet users was swift and filled with humor. @kellyrunsslow commented, "Next to a Cane Corso. That’s your nanny now." Meanwhile, @kxlljoy joked, "You just saved like $100,000 bucks." "This is the most calm urgent situation I’ve ever seen," remarked @jaime__lyn.
Jenna recalls it as “a light-hearted laugh,” because all went well. “It was one of [those] moments I genuinely felt like a superhero,” she said. The whole family laughs while thinking about it every time because sometimes the wildest days begin like any other morning, and the partner you need is already sitting right beside you.
You can watch Jenna's video here.
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