Last week, Pretty Little Liars actress, Troian Bellisario, posted the beautiful Instagram photo above announcing the birth of her second child with husband Patrick Adams. The baby, a daughter named Elliot Rowena, was born May 15th and joins big sister Aurora, two. It’s a lovely photo taken by Patrick of a peaceful moment between mother and child. Which is why I never would have guessed the chaos surrounding little Elliot’s arrival! The couple told Katie Lowes the crazy story of what happened when Troian gave birth by Cedars’ Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. That’s right – by. Because she didn’t make it inside. Troian ended up giving birth in the car in the driveway of the hospital and Patrick caught the baby.
Troian Bellisario and husband Patrick J. Adams are opening up about the unconventional way in which they welcomed their second child into the world.
While chatting with Katie Lowes for an episode of her podcast, Katie’s Crib, Bellisario, 35, and Adams, 39, revealed that their daughter Elliot Rowena – who was born in May – was delivered while the Pretty Little Liars actress was inside a car.
First detailing that her contractions were coming close together early one morning, Bellisario and Adams thought nothing of it given their experience with their firstborn daughter, Aurora, whose labor lasted over 26 hours.
But, as time went by and as Bellisario felt more uncomfortable, the pair then decided it was time for them to head to the hospital. “I’m starting to have to push my seatbelt away from me … I’m in a lot of pain, but I’m also like, ‘I can’t be in this position anymore,'” Bellisario said of her experience driving to the hospital.
As Adams pulled into the parking lot of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, they realized they were in a situation that couldn’t be ignored. “As soon as I hit the button and grab the ticket, she’s screaming,” Adams detailed. “… I whip around, and by the time I turn my head around, Troian is already [fully on her] hands and knees … and we’ve gone nuclear.”
“I get up to the (security) guy and I say, ‘It’s all happening, in the car. You need to get the wheelchair down here, we need the people, all the people! All the professionals! It’s happening!'” he said.
But, as Adams explained, the security guard appeared to think he was exaggerating, before the Suits actor opened the car door to reveal Bellisario inside. “As soon as I open it, Troian is doing one of her incredible howls,” Adams said.
At that moment, Bellisario called for her husband’s attention, telling him that the baby was coming and that she couldn’t find a comfortable spot to rest her legs. She then screamed to Adams to take her pants off of her.
“So she is still on all fours, butt facing the windshield. Her butt’s at my head level, so I just go and pull down her pants,” Adams recalled, adding, “and [the baby’s] head is right there.”
At that point, Adams then realized that had no choice but to deliver the pair’s baby himself. “There was no room for panic,” he said. “You just need to deal with this situation.”
As the baby continued to emerge, Adams said that he “checked the neck” to make sure the umbilical cord wasn’t wrapped around it, before the baby continued on her way out.
“One more push and the baby was all the way out,” Adams said of the moment, which he detailed “all took place in the span of about three minutes.”
The father of two then recalled memories from his first daughter’s birth – and how it was necessary to make sure that none of the fluids covering the baby would get into her nose or mouth – so he turned the newborn upside down. “And as soon as I turn her upside down, she starts crying and screaming,” Adams said.
This story is crazy. I am so impressed with Patrick keeping his head about him so much to know all the right things to do. The positioning of everyone in the car sounds incredibly awkward but I guess birth is such an instinctual thing, you do what you know has to be done (I’m not trying to “play dumb.” My large-headed babies mandated C-Sections so I never technically went into labor). I am surprised at the lack of medical personnel available to help but my guess is they tried to get someone from the birth unit down to assist and Troian was just too far for them to get to her in time. I can believe the security guard thought Patrick was exaggerating. I’m sure they’ve heard it all. Still. Wow, what a story. And Patrick will always be able to say he delivered Elliot himself. Of course, I hope Troian reminds him she still did most of the work.
Congratulations to the whole family. I’m glad everyone is happy and healthy… and has the best story at parties for years to come!
Photo credit Avalon Red and Instagram
That is awesome, good for them. God bless this little family.
Glad they are all alright! What a stressful situation.
She is master of the universe and he is superman. I remember my deliveries and it was CHAOS. Well done guys and congrats for the baby.
Glad everyone was safe. From what I understand, hospital lot births aren’t all that uncommon. Two coworkers had kids born in their cars at the hospital. The security guard should have been a little less surprised but it sounds like nobody would have gotten there in time.
In addition to the coworkers having babies in the parking lots, one of my aunts had similar experiences. Her first baby was born in a taxi on the way to the hospital. Two years later, my uncle got her to the hospital in time but just barely. He was an hysterical mess when they arrived, screaming “It’s coming! She has them fast! HELP!” They pushed him away , told him to calm down, and sent him to do paperwork, then put my aunt in an elevator to take her to maternity. My cousin was born in the elevator.
Your poor uncle! That’s so funny. Your poor aunt!
This was almost me with our third. She came so fast! The only thing that kept her in long enough to be very hurriedly wheeled to labor and delivery was the fact my water hadn’t broken and the sac was keeping her in.
And me with my second! First one took 25 hours so I was expecting the same time delay. But after 3 hours it was “Get me to the hospital NOW!” And yes, I started pushing in the car.
Screamed the “Baby’s coming!” Husband skids to a halt at the Maternity door entrance, and runs inside to get someone. As I pushed away my only thought wasn’t I’m giving birth alone but “It’s the company car!!!” Appears with 2 midwives and a wheelchair to hurtle me inside and number two is born minutes later.
Unforgettable……
Yep, same with my second and third. I almost had them both in the car but my water was still intact and kept everything in place. When I stood up to walk to the bed -splash! went the water and down slid the kid. 😜
Same thing happened to close friend, right down to not being believed by hospital staff. Babies come when they are ready, not when the parents are.
This is up there with Seth Meyers wife giving birth in the lobby of their apartment.
That’s the first thing that came to my mind, too! 😄
Yes! Lobby baby was my first thought as well.
Yes, that was the story that came to mind too! I remember him telling that story, so insane.
Second babies can come sooo much faster then first babies. I think it can be shocking for some moms, they just don’t expect it to be so different.
My sister’s first was 11 hours of labor – baby had a huge head. The second, she was having back pains. I told her to time the back pains and call her doctor. Three hours between start of back pains until the baby was born. She was at the hospital ready to go when she had the first of what she considered contractions.
My mom is a retired midwife and obstetrics nurse and she used to say rule of thumb that you should halve your labour time with each delivery. It doesn’t hold for all women but it is pretty accurate for many.
Totally – my mom says that my birth (her first) was 8 hours of labor, and my sister was 4 hours. She went by the books. 😉
Right?! Get to the hospital ASAP when contractions start with your second!!!
My first was delivered in 4.5 hours, and I was shocked. We would like a second, and my dr said labor would probably be even shorter. I am heading to the hospital as soon as my water breaks. I want that epidural. 😂
Yesssss. Get that epidural gurl. You deserve it!
Yes, go quickly! The morning my 2nd was born, I had a gyn appointment. Barely dilated and they said it looked like I may need to be induced. Later that night, I fell asleep putting #1 to bed. Contraction woke me up and #2 was there in 3 hours. No time for an epidural, but I was just glad not to give birth on the Mass Pike!
Good on Patrick and Troian! Love Elliot too (and no one needs written permission for it). Hospital carparks are huge so even the logistics of telling staff and getting them to the car would take a while, this seemed minutes. Glad they made it ❤️❤️❤️
All my deliveries were so long and miserable. My epidural wore off for my second (because the anesthesiologist didn’t explicitly tell me I could self-administer). Your body knows the correct position, and it ain’t on your back. Anyway, I would have loved a birth this fast. Good for them!
So glad she and baby are safe! Rowena is interesting. Brings to mind Rowena Ravenclaw from Harry Potter.
His mother is called Rowan
Christ! They are both badasses!! So happy for them ❤️
So glad everyone is safe! My mother had me in the taxi on the way to the hospital. She said it took her around 10 mins or so to push me out.
This story makes me sweat so hard.
I was born in the front seat of a ’57 Chevy under a street light, six blocks from Oshawa General Hospital.
Good for them! Not that they needed it, but sure saved a LOT of money not having delivery at the hospital!
This sounds like my good friend’s second birth, except she just made it in the hospital with baby’s head poking out. If my math is correct my 3rd baby should be about 12 hours of labor and that will be quick for me.
Wow, what a crazy experience. Congrats to them!
Hecate- I also had a mandated c-section due to a large-headed baby. ☺️
With my second the nursing staff didn’t believe I was in labor and sent me home. My water broke, I came back and they said oh, you’re back already? Made me wait forever in reception. Didnt believe me when I said I needed to push but I insisted they check me anyway. They were stunned when the baby was right there and two nurses were running around knocking stuff over trying to get a doctor in my room while my husband was out getting our bags. At one point everybody left the room and my son’s head started coming out of me. Let me just say, women know when they are giving birth and should be listened to the first time! At least I made it to the hospital…
There are waaaaay too many stories about women not being believed when it comes to childbirth and it makes me really angry. You pull up to a security guard at a hospital and youre sounding the alarm and they don’t take you seriously? And the ob nurses that are described in the comments, that have to basically be begged to do their job? I’ve read so many “nurse checked me and the baby’s head was crowning” stories. They should know better. I know they have heard these stories too. It takes just a minute to check.