Spoiler alert: This newborn isn’t actually ready to walk the dog. But hey! Science is cool.
In this short video — which has racked up 80 million views and counting — a baby girl assisted by an amazed midwife seems to be strolling along on two tiny feet.
More: Newborn “walks” out of mom’s womb during C-section
The video itself is a bit of mystery, with facts and details hard to track down. Here’s what we know: The clip is believed to have been filmed in Brazil at the Santa Cruz Hospital (based on the midwife’s scrubs — how Nancy Drew is that?) and was posted to Facebook by Arlete Arlantes. It’s not clear if Arlantes is the midwife, the mother, a hospital employee or the baby herself (hey, she’s advanced for her age). But check it out:
And in case you don’t speak Portuguese:
“Oh my gosh, the girl is walking. Good gracious!” is what the midwife is crowing, according to The Independent. She continues, “Merciful father. I was trying to wash her here and she keeps getting up to walk.”
More:Cool video shows newborns “crawling” to mom’s breast
We hate to bum you out, but there is no miracle at work here. What we’re seeing is fun old science. This newborn is showing off her very on-point stepping reflex. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, babies occasionally appear to dance or march when they are held upright with their feet touching something solid (like a table or Mom’s lap). This reflex sticks around for the first two months of most babies’ lives, which is maybe less exciting than an all-out miracle, but still pretty darn cool, no?
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