Nationwide — Peyton Peoples, a 16-year-old African American teen from Detroit, Michigan, gave birth at home on Thanksgiving without realizing she was pregnant. She initially told her mom the baby had been left on the porch, causing confusion and concern.
Peyton went into labor alone while her mom, Kira Peoples, was visiting a family member. After just three pushes, her son Paxton was born in the bathroom. “I cleaned him off and then looked up on TikTok how to cut my umbilical cord. I cut the cord and then wiped him off again,” Peyton told Fox 2 Detroit.
Frightened and unsure how to explain what had happened, Peyton told her mom a stranger had left the baby on their porch. Kira believed her and shared the story online, where it quickly spread.
Detroit police were called and took Peyton to Children’s Hospital to confirm the baby’s parentage. Peyton eventually admitted that Paxton was hers. She said she didn’t want to burden her mother, who already cared for four children and faced financial struggles, especially after her partner was killed in a robbery seven months ago.
“It’s hard. It was already hard for her to raise us, and that just added another burden on her back, and I didn’t want to do that,” Peyton said.
Despite the unexpected situation, Kira called Paxton a blessing. She plans to juggle work while Peyton returns to school.
“We’re going to figure it out,” Kira said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Peyton and her newborn son as they adjust to this new chapter. It has so far raised over $24,500.