Caleb's birth story Part 1

About 5 weeks before Caleb's due date, through several different events, God led Ben and I to take a natural child birth class through First Birth Ministries.  Now this class was a 7 week course and we only had 5 (little did we know, really it was only 4) weeks to go.  The teacher of the class was very gracious and worked it out with us to be able to do the class in about 3 weeks instead.  While this did make our lives a little crazy for 2 weeks because the classes were inside the loop and quite a drive especially coming from work, it gave us an excuse to eat out at some fun restaurants around the city and gave us some fun memories together before Caleb came.  God is so kind in giving us little gifts.

This class really shifted our focus to honor God with our birth in trusting him and relying on him for the entire process and letting Him be our strength and sustainer throughout.  Not that we weren't before but it made us really focus on God and trust in Him fully.  It also unified us as team Cooper, ready to take on labor.  Ben was to be my emotional support while the Doula, the teacher of the class, was my coach for labor.

Fast forward 3 weeks...

Friday, April 27th was my last day of work before I went on maternity leave.  I said goodbye to my students and co-workers, looking at a possible 2 weeks of waiting time before sweet Caleb joined us although in my head, I didn't plan past Wednesday of that first week.  My mom and I predicted that he would come at the end of that first week home.  I cleared out my classroom and left everything ready for my wonderful substitute to come in and take over for the craziness that is the end of the year.

Walking out of my classroom on my last day

First Monday off, I got a pedicure and manicure (french tips so they will last) and took a leisurely trip to the grocery store.  Tuesday I got my haircut and cleaned house.  Wednesday I sewed curtains for Caleb's room and did some laundry.  I was ready for him!  Thursday morning, I went into my 38 week doctor's appointment.  I just had a feeling that for some reason, he was coming soon.

Monday's treat for pregnant girl

Sitting in the baby room just waiting!

 Last Belly shot, 38 1/2 weeks pregnant

The doctor's appointment went well at first - still 3cm dilated and 80% effaced, same as the week before.  Then I casually mentioned some fluid issues (I'll spare you the details) and the doctor decided just to be sure, lets do a sonogram and just check your fluid levels to make use there's still enough in there for sweet Caleb.  During the sonogram, I asked if all looked ok.  The tech said well yes they are a little low and that the doctor was going to come and talk to me about my sonogram.  Interesting I thought...she never talks to me about the sonogram.

So I waited and then they called me back in and put me in the "Procedure room".  I know now that they must have just not have had one of their office rooms available so they put me in this one but at the time, I was a little freaked out.  Inside this room, there are instruments of every kind.  And they left me in there for a good 15 minutes!  What is going on?!  Then I hear them saying my name outside.  "L-Y-N-N.  Yes, she's 38 weeks.  5:30?  Ok. great."  What is happening at 5:30?  And then the doctor came in.  "Its time to have this baby," she says.  Apparently my fluid levels were way too low and because I was already full term, there was no reason for him to stay in there so the best thing to do was induce.  Induce...when my plan was to go no drugs and labor partly at home.  Induce...when we have taken this entire birthing class on how to do it without intervention and with the Doula.  Ok Lord, You know best.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

I left the doctor's office and got in the elevator with tears threatening.  I got in the car, about to lose it and called Ben immediately.  No small talk..."They want to induce me tonight.  Please come home."  This thing that we have said could happen any minute, that we have waited for with expectation is here and we act surprised when it happens.  Oh what humans we are.

Ben came home around 2:30.  By this point, I'd called and texted most family and close friends to pray and to let them know that the TIME HAS COME!  The doctor's office called and said that they want us to come in at 10pm to give me the first drug to start the induction slowly with a plan for pitocin to begin in the morning.  So what do you do on your last afternoon without a baby?  Its quite a weird feeling to know that this is the end of one season and the beginning of another.  So, I cleaned out my purse, we got the house ready for guests (hotel Cooper for our family while we were in the hospital) and we put the car seat in the car.  And then we drove the car and the car seat out to eat.  We went by Olive Garden and it was an hour wait...no time for that...so we went to Jonny Carino's and I think I ate 2 loaves of their amazing salty bread.  I ate less than half my meal and didn't even take the rest to-go.  Then we went home to wait.  Maybe we watched some tv...I have no clue.  By 9:15am, I couldn't take it anymore and we left for the hospital.

On our way back from dinner with a car seat in our car!

Part 2 coming soon...