Vanessa Lachey Breaks Down as She Reveals She Underwent an Emergency Surgery During Premature Birth of Son Phoenix

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When Vanessa Lachey welcomed her third child last year, her world and perspective on life changed forever.

Vanessa Lachey Breaks Down as She Reveals She Underwent an Emergency Surgery During Premature Birth of Son Phoenix

On Monday’s Dancing with the Stars, the mother of three broke down in tears as she revealed on the reality dancing competition series’ Most Memorable Year episode that she had underwent an emergency operation when her son, Phoenix Robert, came in 10 weeks early last December. (His due date was supposed to be sometime in spring 2017.)

“I was in the hospital on bedrest and then my water broke. I was only 29 weeks,” Lachey, 36, explained to her pro-partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, whom she performed an emotional rumba with, about why 2017 was the most memorable and impactful year of her life.

“I’ll never forget. She called me in a panic: ‘They’re taking me in for an emergency surgery. Get here as quick as you can,’ ” her husband Nick Lachey recalled.
“I was on the operating bed and I looked up and I didn’t know a single face and I remembered thinking I hope the baby’s okay and don’t worry about me. Just make him okay,” Vanessa tearfully shared, who was awarded a 24/30 for the number, which she performed to a song sung by Nick. “This song got us through some really tough times and helped us bond even closer as a family.”

“I think as a man, you want to believe you can protect your kids, protect your wife,” said a tearful Nick, who could be seen crying after his wife hung up. “I never felt so helpless.”

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Days after welcoming Phoenix, 10 months, with Nick — who was also competing on the ABC show with pro partner and Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Peta Murgatroyd — in December, she took to Instagram to share the exciting news about their Christmas Eve child.

“It’s a very Merry Christmas indeed!” wrote Vanessa on Instagram Dec. 26, captioning a photo of her new son’s little hand holding her fingers.
In celebration of Mother’s Day last May, Lachey posted an Instagram speaking about being a mother — she also shared about her other children: her son Camden John, 5, and daughter Brooklyn Elisabeth, 2, with Nick — of three children.

She wrote:

I remember my first Mother’s Day with each of my babies! This one is extra special (for so many reasons)! Phoenix literally completes me… and US! It’s amazing how much more Love you find in your heart for your family as it grows. Let me be the first to tell you Mama’s who want more kids… it keeps getting BETTER! ☺️ I Love You Camden John. I Love You Brooklyn Elisabeth. I Love You Phoenix Robert. And I’m so grateful for you @nicklachey (and of course I Love You, too!) Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mama’s out there! Your unconditional Love is magic!

“I remember my first Mother’s Day with each of my babies! This one is extra special (for so many reasons)! Phoenix literally completes me… and US! It’s amazing how much more love you find in your heart for your family as it grows. Let me be the first to tell you Mama’s who want more kids… it keeps getting BETTER! ” she wrote.

“I Love You Camden John. I Love You Brooklyn Elisabeth. I Love You Phoenix Robert,” she continued. “And I’m so grateful for you @nicklachey (and of course I Love You, too!) Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mama’s out there! Your unconditional Love is magic! .”

For his routine, Lachey had recreated the couple’s first dance from their wedding.