Governor's water breaks in Texas, gives birth in Alaska

Despite being very, very pregnant, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was in Grapevine Thursday for a forum held by the Republican Governor's Association.

We were kind of preoccupied by our own governor's announcement that he plans to run for re-election, so we missed the other big news of the conference.

From Alaskan NBC affiliate KTUU:

Just yesterday, Palin was in Texas at a forum on energy with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and executives from four other states.

The governor's water broke during the energy conference but she stayed and gave a 30-minute speech before boarding an Alaska Airlines plane home to deliver the baby.

Palin gave birth to Trig Paxson Van Palin Friday at 6:30 a.m.

No word on why Palin was so determined to make sure young Trig wasn't born a Texan.

(Photo coutesy of www.ktuu.com)

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[KLH]

How do Texans feel about the fact that Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin was quoted as saying she would do whatever it took to prevent her child from being born on Texan soil?

[ears1foru]

Better to have never lived in a State that Rick Perry is Governor of.

[sgmorr]

I seriously question the governor's judgement for making the bizarre decision to fly back to Alaska after her membranes ruptured. She was asking for trouble, but fortunately made the trip safely. I hope she runs the statehouse better than she handles her own pregnancies.

[Mark G.]

Same to ya, Lady.

[Dale C]

It may have been risky, I don't have enough knowledge in that field, but most any governor would wish to have a child born in the state where they serve.

[Joseph]

I've heard it's because SHE wasn't actually pregnant. she was just covering for her teenage daughter- who was actually have the baby back in Alaska.

[Andrea]

The fact that a 44 year old woman pregnant with her fifth child whose membranes ruptured and was in premature labor choose to get on a commercial airline putting not only herself and her unborn premature and disabled child in danger but everyone on the plane flight was well is beyond insane, this woman clearly has very poor judgement and the doctor who allegedly told her she could fly should lose his license!!!

[Andrea]

The fact that a 44 year old woman pregnant with her fifth child whose membranes ruptured and was in premature labor choose to get on a commercial airline putting not only herself and her unborn premature and disabled child in danger but everyone on the plane flight was well is beyond insane, this woman clearly has very poor judgement and the doctor who allegedly told her she could fly should lose his license!!!

[Andrea]

The fact that a 44 year old woman pregnant with her fifth child whose membranes ruptured and was in premature labor choose to get on a commercial airline putting not only herself and her unborn premature and disabled child in danger but everyone on the plane flight was well is beyond insane, this woman clearly has very poor judgement and the doctor who allegedly told her she could fly should lose his license!!!

[schatsie]

I am sorry, but really, this is her FIFTH child, her water broke and she delivered over 12 hours later... think about it...

The first delivery is usually the longest and then they go faster and faster...With my one and only, a breech, my water broke at 1 in the morning and he was delivered at 8 pm...

I just have a hard time believing she was flying around, leaving 4 children at home and 9 months pregnant...Does her husband really have a job with the oil company, bet he does a lot of work at home hahahaha.

[Joy]

As a nurse who practiced for 40 yrs., I can inform you that when the amniotic sac breaks, it is extremely dangerous to travel because there is always the possibility of the umbilical cord dropping down into the birth canal. When that happens, the baby is deprived of oxygen during each contraction and will most likely be brain-damaged. No woman in her right mind would take such a chance.
You can easily 'stage' a pregnancy with some stuffing and 'stage' the water breaking with a little water(!). I would surmise that the chance of the baby being her daughter's is fairly good since Downes children are either born to older women or younger girls as a general rule.

[Joy]

As a nurse who practiced for 40 yrs., I can inform you that when the amniotic sac breaks, it is extremely dangerous to travel because there is always the possibility of the umbilical cord dropping down into the birth canal. When that happens, the baby is deprived of oxygen during each contraction and will most likely be brain-damaged. No woman in her right mind would take such a chance.
You can easily 'stage' a pregnancy with some stuffing and 'stage' the water breaking with a little water(!). I would surmise that the chance of the baby being her daughter's is fairly good since Downes children are either born to older women or younger girls as a general rule.

[Joy]

As a nurse who practiced for 40 yrs., I can inform you that when the amniotic sac breaks, it is extremely dangerous to travel because there is always the possibility of the umbilical cord dropping down into the birth canal. When that happens, the baby is deprived of oxygen during each contraction and will most likely be brain-damaged. No woman in her right mind would take such a chance.
You can easily 'stage' a pregnancy with some stuffing and 'stage' the water breaking with a little water(!). I would surmise that the chance of the baby being her daughter's is fairly good since Downes children are either born to older women or younger girls as a general rule.

[Evan]

If this is true, first, I don't understand how any airline would let a person in late term pregnancy get on board. When my wife was pregnant, she was told very clearly that she should not travel in her last trimester. Second, I don't understand how any rational person would board an eight hour flight from Dallas to Anchorage after their water broke. In the best interest of the child, once the water breaks, I always thought the mother should get to the hospital immediately, not give a speech and board an eight hour flight.

[Arthur Bert]

There are almost as many alledged "womenizing" stories about John McCain's political life, as there are about Bill Clinton's extra-marital and political lifes. Like JM'S extra Divorce Affairs and his extra political and personal contacts with a special K-Street Female? Can anyone phantom what type of additional comments would be illusioned, reflected about and reported upon now if Bill Clinton had selected Sarah Palin as his VP Mate? You get only one guess.... argb

[carla janson m.d.]

this was (supposedly) her 5th pregnancy. usually , the more children you have had, the more rapidly your labor progresses. it seems unlikely she would have held on that long with #5.... and why would she try. anyone with any sense once in labor proceeds to the nearest competant hospital.... period. the last thing a reasonable woman would wish for is to deliver in a car or plane. take your pick : either she exercised incredably poor judgement or it didn't happen as it has been reported. not good either way. this woman may be "leading us"??? please !!!

[signeora]

Does anyone know if there is any truth to the rumor that she never looked pregnant and that she was covering for her daughter who was the one actually pregnant? Word is she wasn't even showing at 8 months.

Wouldn't this make Palin the GRANDmother - not the mother?

Anyone know the real story here?

[Jo]

I worked for an OB/GYN for years and this story is very much unacceptable and hard to believe in. Who in her right mind, on her fifth child, will break her water and waited more than 20 hours to seek help from a doctor? She knows that her baby have down-syndrome, how can she possibly fly all the way to Alaska from Texas to deliver?? That is a very stupid decision. She should seek medical attention as soon as possible and NOT travel for another 20 hours or so in a commercial flight just to deliver the baby in her state. That story is UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

[keeplovealive]

I guess she figured it didn't matter since she already knew the child was retarded. Maybe she was hoping it would die before she got home.

[Serena]

Sarah Palin is lying to cover up. And further--IF Bristol is pregnant again---she is about to have a second child at age 17!

[SROM Mom]

Hopping on a plane while in labor is insanely reckless. Not to mention, I am sure the MDs in Texas are more highly qualified than those in AK - AK is where you go to practice when you can't get into a high-quality area.

What was she smoking?

[SROM Mom]

Hopping on a plane while in labor is insanely reckless. Not to mention, I am sure the MDs in Texas are more highly qualified than those in AK - AK is where you go to practice when you can't get into a high-quality area.

What was she smoking?

[John M]

Why don't we let Palin handle her pregnancy, and we'll handle our own business? Yeah, that sounds like a better idea.

[Mauri Pallaci]

According to the Mayo Clinic web site, all you alleged OB/GYN nurses are full of S#!t.

Cabins are pressurized and labor contractions can be controlled by an MD.

People, DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS or accept anything you read here on fox cnn or msnbc as the truth. Don't be lazy, learn the facts for yourself or you risk becomming ill informed.

[Verne]

I am wondering if anybody is checking into this story. When I was pregnant with my son. My water broke and I called my doctor and he urged me to get the emergency room and he would meet me there ASAP, because I could set up infection and have other complications. This story Sarah Palin is telling smells to high heaven.