Brain-dead woman used as ‘human incubator’ because of abortion law delivers baby by cesarean

Adriana Smith, the woman who was kept medically alive after her death eight weeks into her pregnancy, has delivered a baby boy by way of emergency cesarean, her family has said.

Trigger warning: This story contains details that some people may find distressing.

The devastating story of Adriana has been followed closely by people across the world, sparking a TikTok trend of women saying “save me over the baby” after Adriana was used as what many people referred to as a “human incubator”.

The tragic story started in February of this year when Adriana visited Northside Hospital in Georgia complaining of severe headaches. She was released on medication without scans or further tests, but just a day later, she was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered multiple blood clots in her brain.

Adriana was declared brain dead on February 19, but because she was eight weeks pregnant, Georgia’s abortion laws meant she was kept on a ventilator until the baby could be delivered. The case became highly talked about across the world, dividing both officials and advocacy groups. Her own family also grappled with the news, telling ABC that they should have been given a choice.

Credit: WXIA

Adriana Smith’s baby was delivered this week

This week, shortly after Adriana Smith turned 31, the baby was delivered via emergency cesarean four months after she was declared brain dead by doctors in the US.

“He’s expected to be OK,” her mother, April Newkirk, told WXIA of Atlanta. “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him.”

The fact that Adriana Smith was treated as an incubator for this baby and then immediately unplugged off life support right after the baby is taken out just tells you how this country views Black women. This should disgust you.

— Briana Mills, LMFT ♿️🏳️‍🌈 (@theBrianaMills) June 18, 2025

Most Read

The best three UK unis for each subject in 2026, according to the Complete University Guide

The absolute worst unis in the UK right now according to the Complete University Guide

It’s over! OnlyFans confirms Bonnie Blue’s ban is permanent and the exact reason why

Naming him Chance, the premature baby weighed one pound, 13 ounces and is now in the neonatal intensive care unit. Adrianna’s life support will be turned off on Tuesday.

“It’s kind of hard, you know,” April also told 11Alive news. “It’s hard to process.”

People have been reacting to the news on Twitter, as one person wrote: “Adriana Smith. I’m sorry this happened to you. May you finally rest in peace.”

“What happened to Adriana Smith is way more criminal and vile than an abortion could ever be,” another said.

I keep seeing Adriana Smith "gave birth." She didn't "give birth," a fetus was cut from a corpse. She & her family were denied any dignity in her death. She was dehumanized, designated an incubator, & desecrated. By the very system that killed her.

— The Road Jess Travelled (@JessPected) June 17, 2025

Someone else wrote: “Calling this a ‘success’ erases the violence that happened to Adriana Smith. A woman was declared brain-dead and kept alive against her family’s will just to use her body as an incubator. This isn’t a miracle, it’s a creepy dystopia.”

Under Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat law”, abortion is banned once a fetal heartbeat is detected at around six weeks. At the time of the initial news, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said the legislation did not explicitly mandate life support for brain‑dead women. The nonspecific nature of the laws contributed to the confusion surrounding the case.

For more, like The Tab on Facebook.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe