Vanessa Lachey Breaks Down In Tears Discussing Her Son's Scary Premature Birth

From Woman's Day

Vanessa Lachey was just 29 weeks along in her pregnancy when her water broke in December 2016-and the events that followed were some of the most terrifying on her life, the star revealed on Dancing with the Star's Most Memorable Year episode.

Now 10 months old, Phoenix Robert-the third child of Vanessa and her husband, singer Nick Lachey- spent six weeks in the NICU after his mother went through emergency surgery.

"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,'" said Nick. "I think as a man, you want to believe you can protect your kids, protect your wife. I never felt so helpless."

Vanessa broke down in tears while talking about her son arriving 10 weeks early, saying that her only concern was her son's safety: "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."

But the couple made it through the difficult experience by supporting each other. Nick told People that Vanessa spent time with Phoenix while he stayed home to take care of their two older children, Camden John, 5, and Brooklyn Elisabeth, 2.

"Our youngest wasn't even old enough to go see him, so only Camden got to go see him," he said. "And then it's scary, there's beeps and alarms and this and that and tubes and it's like you don't want to… it's a hard thing. There's just no two ways about it."

Vanessa's DWTS performance, inspired by her emotional year, brought tears to her husband's eyes. She danced to Nick's "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)," a song that she says helped get them through the tough times.

Earlier this year, Vanessa posted a photo of her and a happy, healthy Phoenix for Mother's Day. In the caption she wrote that "it's amazing how much more love you find in your heart for your family as it grows."