311's Nick Hexum Delivers Baby at Home

By Kelly Fisher Posted Jun 17th 2011 07:40AM

Talk about things not going as planned. Nick Hexum, frontman of the band 311, found himself delivering his second child without a midwife when his wife suddenly went into labor last month.

According to PEOPLE, Hexum and his wife, Nikki, planned on having a home birth for their second daughter, Maxine, but Nikki went into labor before the midwife arrived.

Hexum had to be quick on his feet, not only for the delivery, but to deal with some scary complications as well when the baby got lodged in the birth canal.

"After Max's head popped out, the delivery stalled for the next couple of contractions. The baby's head was blue and the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck," Hexum said of the terrifying delivery. "I was worried the cord was choking her, keeping blood from getting to her brain."

But luckily, the singer paid close attention when the couple's first daughter, Echo, 21 months, was born.

"I knew from observing and listening the first time around that sometimes the baby's shoulder would get caught and they would have to reach in there and break its collar bone to free her," he said, adding that he "felt the shoulders and rotated the baby back and forth."

That seemed to do the trick, and baby Maxine was born on May 1.

"I jiggled her around until I heard a 'wahhh!' It was an amazing moment," Hexum said of the birth, and adding that the midwife arrived minutes later.

"Everything was fine!" the singer said of the whole thing. "We never went to the hospital. We just sat in bed laughing and crying tears of joy about what a crazy experience it was."

Hexum's new album with 311, 'Universal Pulse,' drops July 19.

Tags: 311, nick hexum

Comments

(15)

Friday 17 June

By Dance311

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I love 311. Congrats to the family.

By cheeke11967

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Awesome!Congrats to Ya'll!

By Sandry G

I also love 311. great band. have loved them for years! So glad to hear everything went ok. Awesome job Nick and Nikki! congrats!

By Rory

He's officially my Dad of the Year!!

By Kate

Way to go, Nick!! You deserve a big Father's Day gift this year!! Congrats to the happy parents!! Can't wait to see 311 on tour this summer!!

By Addiesmom

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I think it's crazy that people don't want to take advantage of modern medicine and the miracles that it does. I bet people in 1600s would have killed to have a hospital with an experienced medical team and resources if anything goes wrong. Yes, births have been happening at home for thousands of years, but children and mothers have also been DYING during childbirth at home for thousands of years! Why do you think there are no mothers in fairy tales?! It's such a stupid risk to take. If you want to take a risk, then bungee jump or something. Why risk your child and wife? It makes no sense to me.

By Susy Jones

Seriously, what were they thinking? They should have gone to the hospital after the birth at least to make sure all was ok!!!

By RS

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If we had opted to have a home delivery, both my son and I would probably have died. So much for having home births.

By thudpucker

Baby's have been born at home since Adam and Eve with no hospital. Midwives attend

By Sue

This should be a cautionary tale. Thank goodness the baby is healthy, doctors and hospitals for a reason!

Thursday 23 June

By Christen

I understand that some women would rather not have a hospital birth because they want to avoid having interventions, say pitocin or a c-section, but they should really think long and hard before they decide on a home birth. I agree with the above poster that, yes, women have been giving birth a home since the begining of time, but so many women and children have died during child birth! we are so lucky to have access to prenatal care and experienced obstricians. Why not give birth at a hospital w/ a midwife or a birthing center? Seems like a much safer option. Personally I would never give birth anywhere but a hospital because I want my freaking epidural! I hate pain and would rather enjoy my baby being born.

By Maxine Lighthorse

I cant say as I have heard the singer, but I sure love the baby"s name.....Way to go parents!!!!

By courtney

congrats to them and maybe the chord wrapping around the babies neck happened after Nikki's last check up and they didn't have time to get to the hospiatl. besides not all mothers and children born at home die Frank Sinatra was born at home in 1915 though he ended up with a punctured ear drum and one cheek smaller than the other because of the forcepts that aided in delivering him as he was a 13.5lb baby

By Di

Good for him! I'm glad he paid attention with the first child and he was calm enough to handle it. I delivered one at home ALONE!

By Marilynnn

It could have gone alot differently. Why would anyone
not take advantage of a modern facility, and a good doctor? I bet his wife wasn't so happy during the turning back and forth of the baby's head!

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