We had a baby!!
Our sweet second baby boy is HERE!!
Capers Lynn Cochran
Baby boy surprised us by arriving two weeks ago at 37 weeks pregnant! He decided he wasn’t missing out on all of the Christmas cheer this year!
(Hence why all blogging has stopped recently.)
We have been in newborn Heaven!
Baby also arrived before I had a chance to blog a third trimester recap!
So today, I’m back! I’m going to recap third trimester which will lead perfectly into baby’s birth story. I’m excited to tell y’all about both today!
Third trimester….
Where to begin! Well let’s talk about our maternity photos first, LOL.
I wore this same red dress for maternity photos with Brewer but they were all outdoor photos. When we found out we were expecting a Christmas baby, of course I had to pull the red dresses back out! This time though, I wanted indoor photos. Most of our family photos are outdoors and I really wanted some studio photos this time around!
We actually had them done at a local studio in my hometown!
I love these boys of mine so much. We have been so excited, anticipating the arrival of our second baby boy this Christmas season!
During third trimester, we were steady working in the nursery, installing the car seat, packing hospital bags, we had an amazing baby shower, and we’ve been enjoying the holiday season too while waiting on the best Christmas gift ever to arrive!
Thankfully, we did get our to- do list accomplished before baby boy arrived!
Find baby’s nursery here:
Find the baby shower recap here:
Baby Sprinkle for Baby Boy #2!!
Let’s talk about how third trimester was for me, physically….
Backing up just a bit- this pregnancy started out differently from my first pregnancy.
I had nausea both times during that first trimester but never actually sick which was a blessing! I had pains that started pretty early on my first pregnancy- the abdominal/ nerve pain and severe back pain.
I didn’t experience those pains during my first trimester this time around. And I thought, wow this pregnancy is going to be way different!
Well…. Second trimester the chronic nerve pain in my abdominal area started. My doctor who is incredible helped me find ways to manage it but it never fully went away.
That pain carried into my third trimester. It got really painful. We managed though. A blessing this pregnancy is that I rarely had back pain like I did the first pregnancy. Praise the Lord for that! So I was really only dealing with nerve pain in my abdominal area.
Being uncomfortable while pregnant is normal. Being in pain while pregnant probably sounds weird.
I don’t mind being pregnant one bit! My body just doesn’t love it. But is it worth it? One million percent worth it!
Another thing I started dealing with during my third trimester this time around was high amniotic fluid. I had high fluid with Brewer too but it got even higher during this pregnancy.
Since I had the high fluid during my first pregnancy, doctors knew to watch for it this time around too. So I started having routine ultrasounds, especially during third trimester! Perk to that is getting to see baby often!
Doctors were also keeping track of his growth during these ultrasounds because baby was measuring big!
What causes high amniotic fluid? Doctors aren’t sure. It just happens sometimes! I think it’s because I carry big boys! Lol.
My doctor told me that average range for amniotic fluid is 8 cm. Anything over 25 cm is concerning and anything over 35 is considered “severe.”
During mid third trimester mine reached that 25-35 cm range, so it was monitored biweekly. My doctor actually sent me to maternal & fetal medicine to let them monitor it as well.
My doctors told me the pressure from my fluid was for sure adding to my abdominal nerve pain. It also made my baby bump larger, ha! I also got to a point where my belly felt sensitive to the touch, it felt like it was on fire at times. Weird I know!
Around week 35, I started feeling a lot of pressure, like baby was coming soon! I felt that while pregnant with Brewer too but not until a bit later.
Thanksgiving night, I had my first “scare” where I thought baby really was on the way. I started not feeling great that night and when I got in bed, I was having contractions 2 minutes a part. I thought oh my goodness… can it be? (That next day, I would be 36 weeks.)
I tried my best to get really comfortable and after about 30-45 minutes, the contractions stopped. I took it easy that weekend and I felt fine!
By take it easy.. I mean, we did go to the Grove Park on Sunday..
Haha… I can’t sit still for too long! I had to make sure we made our annual visit to my favorite place on earth! 😉
So then, we go into the new week… things are normal- still feeling pressure though. Then Wednesday night, I was up in literal tears because my stomach felt like it was on fire! I’m not talking about the abdominal/ nerve pain anymore. My entire stomach just hurt and I couldn’t touch it. I tossed and turned until 3 am and Harry was awake with me!
We prayed, I finally fell asleep, and I woke up on Thursday feeling better!
The day before baby was born!
Thursday evening, I had a routine appointment at maternal & fetal medicine to check on my amniotic fluid again. It was at 36 cm. 36!!! That is the severe category! Hence why my belly hurt so bad and was so sensitive the night prior.
The doctor looked at me and said, “I think it’s time to have a baby!”
She said, “You’re 37 weeks tomorrow and baby is considered a term baby! I think it’s time!”
Emotions rushed over me!! I was excited, nervous, so ready to meet my baby, and I felt like I was getting some relief in that moment upon hearing those words!
We spoke about the other options: 1. Do nothing and continue the pregnancy with risks! (No thanks) 2. Drain the fluid which is not recommended at 37 weeks (if I were 27 weeks, it would be different) 3. Have a baby!
So option 3 was the best medical advised decision! The doctor from maternal & fetal medicine told me they would contact my obgyn office to inform them “it’s go time!” and the office would call me to schedule an induction for potentially the next day, Friday!
I get home and a doctor from my office called. They informed me that labor & delivery would be booked on Friday but they could get me in on Saturday/ Sunday and it just so happened that my personal doctor would be there Saturday/ Sunday. I said, “that sounds great!” The doctor said, “great! We will look at the schedule and get back to you tomorrow morning (Friday, the day I turn 37 weeks) to confirm either Saturday or Sunday.”
That Thursday night, I contacted my admin team from work to catch them up to speed and let them know, I would go ahead and begin maternity leave the next day to have a day to rest before going into labor!
And here comes the birth story!
I went to bed that Thursday night and started having contractions again!! They were consistent. I woke up Friday morning wondering would I be able to make it to Saturday or Sunday. Baby just felt like he was coming! I thought to myself, I got this! I have a whole day to rest before potentially going to the hospital on Saturday or Sunday.
Then, the phone call came around 8 am… from my doctors office! It starts with, “We have to tweak plans…” As it turns out, my personal doctor who would be there that weekend had a family emergency and wouldn’t be there that weekend after all. They said, I could still come in that weekend OR there is now a spot open for today (Friday) and of course, another doctor from my office would deliver- They’re all incredible!
I talked through things on the phone and told the doctor about the contractions I was having during the night. We decided it was best for me to go ahead and go that Friday! I get off the phone and we had TWO hours to get to the hospital!
Great! We got Brewer taken care of, made it to the hospital, and we were checked in by 10:15 am!
My nurse who would be with me the entire day (who was amazing, truly felt like I had a bestie next to me during birth!) came in and hooked me up to all the monitors. I was dilated to a 4!! And she could already see my contractions coming 3/4 minutes apart! We were all shocked that my body was basically in labor upon arriving at the hospital.
(I knew it was time! Mothers intuition!)
We did a small dose of pitocin to help me keep dilating! I get the epidural, they broke my water (that was relieving!) and I’m feeling great!
Until I’m not feeling great….. ha!
The epidural was working everywhere except, not 100% below my waist. It worked to a degree but I could tell it wasn’t 100%.
I could not feel contractions anywhere in my stomach or back but I could below the waist.
(Side note… with Brewer, I was completely numb from the waist down but I could still feel contractions in my stomach/ back. This time, it was the opposite!)
I was in a lot of pain there for a bit! We briefly discussed redoing my epidural. Then my cervix was checked and I was 10 cm dilated!
It was time to push!!! No one expected it to go that quickly! The doctor from my office who was expected to deliver was actually operating when it was time for me to push. So briefly and quickly we discussed, taking medicine to stall labor or having another doctor from another group at the hospital come into deliver! I was a little disappointed but also ready to get baby out! So I said let’s go with the doctor who can come now.
As we were waiting for him to get into suit, in walks DR. FRIDAY from my doctor’s office who we were expecting to deliver that day! She finished up with her previous assignment and came quickly to our room, literally saving the day!
Dr. Friday was amazing!!! I started pushing at 4:00 pm and baby was born at 4:18 pm! All of the contractions I was feeling turned into pressure. I felt a lot of pressure during push time and it truly all went SO FAST. I only pushed for 18 minutes! The pain after wasn’t that bad either. I credit a lot of my recovery to how great Dr. Friday was during labor! Recovery has been a lot easier with baby #2.
Dr. Friday delivered our Christmas miracle on a December Friday!! We know the Lord hand picked her to deliver our sweet boy!
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And so…. It was a merry, merry heavenly 1st day of December.. Our family Christmas gift is HERE!!
✨🤍🎁
We are SO excited to introduce you to our son, Capers Lynn Cochran!
Born Friday, December 1st, 2023 at 4:18 pm, weighing 7 lb 10 ounces and 20.5 inches long!
Namesake:
Capers- we heard this name as we were in the “praying/ hoping” season for another baby and fell in love with it! Harry immediately connected with the name because he grew up going to “Capers Island” in Charleston, on the boat each year with his family! It’s also in the city where we vacation now as a family that holds lots of memories for us!
Lynn- This was my middle name prior to getting married, my mom’s maiden name, my grandparents & great grandparents last name! I always knew I wanted to give this name to one of our kids to honor all of the special people who played big parts in my life growing up!
Thank you to God for answering all of our prayers with this sweet, sweet baby! We are in Christmas, baby boy heaven! 🎄🩵🦌
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I truly felt God’s hand at work over every aspect of his birth story!
We had amazing doctors and nurses! We can’t say thank you enough to everyone that had a part in our stay at Spartanburg Regional Hospital. Everyone who walked through our door while there felt like a God send to us.
Remember me mentioning my personal doctor who was originally scheduled to be at the hospital that weekend.. I spoke with her a few days later and her dad actually passed away. That’s why she couldn’t be there. She told me she likes to think that Capers has a guardian angel in Heaven in the form of her dad!
Cue all the tears!!!
I’ve truly been surrounded by the BEST medical team throughout pregnancy and birth! Both times around!
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My hospital playlist!
The top song was on repeat a lot! I’ll forever think of Capers’ birth story when I hear that song!
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And that is Capers’ birth story!
We are SO grateful that the Lord saw it fit for him to arrive 3 weeks early and enjoy the Christmas season with us!
December is my favorite month of the year and Capers arriving on December 1st has made it all the more special!
Capers is 2 weeks old today!
We’ve had some time to reflect on the entire experience since being home from the hospital.
It’s been SO special bringing home a newborn at Christmas. It’s really made us think of Mary giving birth to baby Jesus.
Jesus was sent to deliver people from pain and suffering. And he came in the form of a baby.
My pregnancy got rough at the end and then baby Capers came 3 weeks early and in an instant, I was delivered from pain and suffering that I had been dealing with for weeks.
It makes me emotional to think about. We’re so grateful for our Christmas miracle baby!
I would relive the experience a million times over!
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How is this cutie liking big brother life?!
We couldn’t be more proud of Brewer!!
We didn’t expect him to have much of a reaction because in general, he’s never cared much for babies but he absolutely loves Capers! He always wants to help and refers to Capers as his best friend! It has surprised us in the best way possible!
Their meet & greet at the hospital was so special…
When we started thinking about a gift for baby, Brewer had the idea of dinosaurs so we did just that! Capers happened to have one waiting for Brewer at the hospital too!
A memory I will cherish forever!
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Here’s a little collection of hospital memories:
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Since being home from the hospital, life has been so much fuller and so much sweeter! I can’t really put into words what it’s been like having a newborn at Christmas. Last Christmas, we were praying for this. We just feel really grateful and really blessed this Christmas!
Capers name sake is another reason we decided to go a bit “coastal” with his nursery!
It’s already been a Christmas to remember!
Find other pregnancy related blog posts, here:
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We are soaking in the cozy Christmas season as a family of 4! I will be back on the blog a couple more times between now and the end of the year and I’ll be back on a consistent schedule in the new year!
I’ll be around sometime next week!
kristencochranblog.com 
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