Isaac's Birth Story

A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

Before we got pregnant with our fourth child, the Lord started to stir in me a desire that if we did have another baby, I would have a home birth.

My previous three pregnancies and labors were with regular doctors and hospital births. And so when I started to think about home birth, it was something I had never experienced before. I didn’t really know a lot about it, and it presented me with some fears.

But I know that the Lord always has good plans for us. So I leaned into this interesting new desire that I had for a home birth and started doing some research, and also praying about timing for having our fourth child. I was praying that Tyler would have a desire for this as well, and that we would be in unity on this.

And of course, the Lord allowed that to happen, giving us both a desire for another child and to grow our family.

So when I got pregnant, I started to research what our healthcare options could be here in New Brunswick, Canada.

When I thought about home birth originally, I thought the only option was to have a midwife. I didn’t know that there were any other options outside of that. And there is only one midwife clinic in New Brunswick, and it’s in Fredericton. We don’t live near there, so that quickly became an option that I couldn’t even have.

At first, I was really sad about it, thinking that this was the only option to have a home birth. But I started to talk to some friends who had had home births and ask them about their experiences and what kind of care they pursued. And I continued to pray and ask the Lord for Him to provide a way for this birth to be at home.

I know that the Lord doesn’t give us something unless He’s going to complete it. The Bible tells us:

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

So the Lord gave me this child. He gave me this desire for a home birth. Yes, I’m hitting obstacles, but I’m also learning a lot along the way, and I trust Him to provide.

So I continued to pray that the Lord would provide care for our pregnancy and for a home birth.

I did have one visit at the Women’s Health Clinic in Saint John and also had one ultrasound at the hospital in the beginning of the pregnancy. I went into those appointments prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to provide me with guidance about what I needed and what I didn’t need.

When I declined some of the procedures that the hospital normally does during that first appointment, I was met with some resistance. But I knew that I was trusting the Holy Spirit to guide me each step of the way.

That first experience in the hospital was actually really great because it made me realize that I didn’t want to have to face that kind of resistance and self-advocacy through my entire pregnancy.

I wanted to be supported in how I wanted to go through my pregnancy and go through my labor, and not have to advocate for myself, especially during labor. I wanted to just feel supported.

So I continued to pray that the Lord would provide care for a home birth.

I was having a chat with a friend on Facebook who was also pregnant at the same time as me, and we were talking about our pregnancies, how we were doing, and what kind of birth she was planning to have.

She shared that she was going to be having a free birth, and I started asking her questions about that and about her previous birth experiences. During that conversation, she pointed me toward a birth companion here in New Brunswick.

I had never heard of a birth companion before. I didn’t really understand what that meant, but I was so excited. I felt like this was the answer to the prayers I had been praying for the support that I wanted for a home birth.

So I asked our mutual friend to connect us, and we set up a phone call.

We talked, we got to know each other a little bit, I shared what my desires and goals were for my pregnancy and also for my birth, and she shared how she could support me in that, along with her experience. We just generally got to know each other.

After my phone call with the birth companion, I knew that she was the answer to the prayers I had been praying. Everything that I had specifically asked for in support for a home birth she checked all of those boxes.

So we began our partnership and relationship, and the care that she provided, and we started that journey.

The care that I received throughout this pregnancy looked very different from any of my previous pregnancies.

Instead of frequent doctor’s appointments, my focus became preparing my body as recommended by my birth companion and the way I believed the Lord was leading me to. I focused on nourishing my body well, eating enough protein, staying hydrated, moving my body every day, strength training, walking, taking the supplements I believed supported my pregnancy, spending time in God’s Word, staying connected to church, and continually inviting the Holy Spirit into every decision.

It was the most peaceful pregnancy I have ever experienced.

As the pregnancy progressed, my birth companion came to our home for one of our visits. Tyler was there, and he had the opportunity to ask every question that was on his mind. We talked through different scenarios, what support would look like, and how everything would unfold.

That conversation brought so much peace.

I remember watching Tyler become completely at ease. As his questions were answered one by one, I could see the peace of God settling over both of us. It wasn’t something we had to force. It was simply the Lord confirming that we were walking the path He had prepared for us.

Looking back now, I realize that this pregnancy taught me something much bigger than home birth.

So often, God asks us to let go of what is familiar before He shows us something new.

If I had stayed attached to what I had always known, I never would have experienced the peace that came from following His leading.

The Lord reminded me over and over again that He is always doing something new.

“Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.”
— Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)

That verse became so meaningful throughout this pregnancy.

There wasn’t always a clear roadmap. Sometimes I only knew the next step.

But I’ve learned that’s often how the Lord leads us.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”
— Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

Every time I encountered another question, another unknown, or another opportunity to choose between fear and faith, I came back to that truth and I would pray. 

I didn’t need to know every detail.

I only needed enough light for the next step.

As the weeks went by, I spent a lot of time praying very specifically over this birth.

I prayed over my body.

I prayed over my baby.

I prayed over our home.

I prayed over Tyler.

I prayed over our children.

I prayed over every detail that mattered to me.

After having a previous Caesarean section, I prayed that the Lord would continue healing my uterus and my scar completely.

I prayed that labor would begin during the night.

I prayed that our children would sleep peacefully while their little brother was being born.

I prayed that labor wouldn’t be painful, but that it would simply be intense and productive.

I prayed that I wouldn’t tear.

I prayed that Isaac would cry immediately after birth.

I prayed that the presence of the Holy Spirit would fill our home.

Most of all, I prayed that fear would have absolutely no place in my pregnancy or my labor.

There were moments when people would remind me that I was considered a “geriatric pregnancy.”

There were moments after my ultrasound when opportunities for fear presented themselves.

But every single time fear tried to enter, I chose to replace it with God’s Word instead of agreeing with it.

I reminded myself that this pregnancy belonged to the Lord.

Isaac belonged to the Lord.

My body belonged to the Lord.

And I trusted that the One who had given me this assignment would also faithfully carry me through it.

By the end of my pregnancy, I wasn’t anticipating labor with fear.

I was anticipating meeting my son.

Because Jesus Himself said:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
— John 10:10 (NKJV)

I believed that promise extended into every part of my life including my pregnancy, my labor, and Isaac’s birth.

On Thursday, July 23, I started having contractions.

They weren’t especially strong at first, and because I had experienced prodromal labor before, I didn’t immediately think, “This is it.”

I just continued with my day.

I took a nap.

I made dinner for the family.

I cleaned our upstairs bathroom.

I finished organizing the postpartum baskets that I wanted in my bathroom after the baby was born.

I kept moving around the house, getting little things done, while paying attention to what my body was doing.

As the afternoon and evening went on, the contractions slowly became more regular.

I let my birth companion know that things were starting to happen, although I still wasn’t completely sure how quickly labor would progress.

I also let our photographer know so she could be ready if we needed her.

By around 9:30 that evening, things had definitely changed.

The contractions became much more intense, and I knew we were moving into active labor.

Because my birth companion lived about an hour and forty minutes away, we let her know it was time to start making her way to us.

I naturally found myself wanting to be upstairs in our ensuite bathroom.

We turned the lights off, and I labored mostly in the dark.

That was exactly what my body wanted.

There wasn’t a lot of talking.

There wasn’t a lot of outside distraction.

It was quiet.

Peaceful.

Tyler was strong, steady and brought so much comfort to me as he stood firm and allowed me to rely on him for the support I needed. 

I could completely focus inward on what my body was doing.

Tyler was with me the entire time.

He supported me physically through contractions, and his calm presence was exactly what I needed.

He stayed close.

He encouraged me.

He followed my lead.

I never felt rushed.

I never felt pressured.

I simply listened to my body.

At one point during labor, my water broke.

Later, another portion of the membranes released, and more fluid came.

It surprised me because I had never experienced that before, but everything continued progressing normally.

As labor intensified, I naturally found myself standing and leaning into Tyler during contractions.

That position simply felt right.

Nobody was telling me what position to get into.

Nobody was coaching me through what I should do next.

I was just following what my body was telling me.

As labor continued, I began feeling the urge to push.

It wasn’t something I decided to do.

My body simply started doing it.

I continued leaning on Tyler while standing, allowing each contraction to do its work.

Around this time, our birth companion arrived.

Her presence immediately brought another sense of peace into the room.

She wasn’t there to direct my labor.

She wasn’t there to manage my birth.

She was simply there to support us.

To encourage us.

To quietly observe.

To be available if we needed anything.

At one point I tried sitting.

I also tried kneeling.

But neither position felt quite right.

Every time I changed positions, I found myself wanting to stand again.

Standing was where my body felt strongest.

Standing was where labor felt most productive.

So I listened.

There was so much freedom in not having someone tell me where I needed to be or what I needed to do.

I simply followed the design God had placed within my own body.

As labor continued, I could feel Isaac moving lower and lower.

Eventually, while I was briefly sitting on the edge of our bed, his head began crowning.

It was an incredible moment.

Not frightening.

Not chaotic.

Just intense.

I knew we were so close to meeting him.

Then, almost as quickly as I had sat down, I knew I wanted to stand again.

So I stood back up, leaned into Tyler once more, and continued listening to what my body was asking me to do.

 I stood leaning into Tyler, my body continued doing exactly what it had been created to do.

There was no countdown.

There was no one telling me when to push.

There was no pressure.

I simply surrendered to each contraction and allowed my body to work.

Right around that time, our photographer arrived.

Her timing was incredible.

She quietly came into the room and began capturing the moments without interrupting anything that was happening.

Everything remained calm.

Everything remained peaceful.

I would push during contractions and made a low level moaning sound as I worked through every contraction. 

Within a short time, Isaac was born and caught by our birth companion. 

Standing in our bedroom, supported by Tyler, I welcomed our fourth baby into the world.

It is a moment I will never forget.

The first thing I felt was overwhelming gratitude.

After months of praying, preparing, trusting, and watching the Lord provide every step of the way, our son was finally here.

Just as I had prayed, he cried immediately after he was born.

Hearing his cry filled the room with relief and joy.

It was one more reminder of God’s faithfulness.

We kept Isaac close.

There was no rush.

No one immediately took him away.

No bright lights.

No unnecessary interruptions.

We simply stayed together and soaked in those first moments as a family.

I sat down for a little bit until more contractions started and it was time to deliver the placenta. Again I felt the urge to stand to push through those contractions. . 

We waited until the umbilical cord had finished pulsing and drained completely before it was clamped and cut.

That was something that had been important to me, and I was thankful we were able to let that happen naturally.

My desire for a home birth was to experience all God created our bodies to do. He designed us this way and I knew experiencing His creative design would be an absolute blessing. 

Once everything was complete, I was able to settle into bed with Isaac beside me.

I remember looking around our room and just feeling so thankful.

The Lord had answered so many specific prayers.

He had provided the care I had prayed for.

He had provided peace.

He had provided strength.

He had provided exactly the birth experience I had prayed and prepared for.

One of the things that blessed me the most was the care we received after the birth.

While I rested with Isaac, our birth companion and photographer quietly began taking care of our home.

They started a load of laundry.

They tidied up the birth space.

They made sure everything was clean and comfortable.

Our birth companion also prepared nourishing broth for me so I could begin recovering while staying warm and hydrated.

Those acts of service meant so much.

They allowed Tyler and me to focus entirely on our new baby instead of worrying about everything else that needed to be done.

Later that night, our children came in to meet their new baby brother.

Watching them meet Isaac for the first time is a memory I will treasure forever.

Everything felt peaceful..

We were simply at home.

The next morning, our children were able to come in again, spend time with Isaac, and enjoy those first precious hours together as a family.

Our photographer captured beautiful photographs of those moments that I know we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

That morning, breakfast was prepared for us, including a warm bowl of oats.

It was such a simple gesture, but after giving birth, it was exactly what I needed.

As I sat there holding my newborn son in the comfort of our own home, I remember thinking how grateful I was that I didn’t have to pack up a baby, get into a vehicle, or begin recovering somewhere unfamiliar.

I could simply rest in my own bed, surrounded by my family, in the home where Isaac had entered the world.

Everything about those first hours felt gentle, peaceful, and unhurried.

It was a beautiful beginning to his life.

As I write this, I am four days postpartum.

I’m sitting in my own home with my baby beside me, reflecting on everything the Lord has done over the last nine months.

When I think back to where this journey started, it amazes me how faithfully God led us every step of the way.

What began as a quiet desire in my heart became one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

There were certainly opportunities to fear.

There were obstacles.

There were questions.

There were moments when I didn’t know what the next step would be.

But every single time I brought those things before the Lord, He faithfully provided exactly what I needed for that next step.

Not months in advance.

Not all at once.

Just enough for the next step.

Looking back now, I don’t see a story about home birth.

I see a story about God’s faithfulness.

I see His provision.

I see His peace.

I see His kindness.

I see His guidance.

And I see how gently He led us through every decision.

If there’s one thing I hope someone takes away from reading this, is that you can take God at His Word, base your decisions, actions and expectations on His promises because He is faithful. 

If God is leading, we can have complete confidence that He will also sustain us.

“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Throughout this pregnancy, I held onto that promise. God has good plans for my life, Hod has good plans for Isaac’s life! 

I believed it was God’s desire for every part of my life, my marriage, my children, my health, my pregnancy, and my birth.

I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the incredible women who walked alongside us throughout this journey.

To Kasia Flanagan, thank you for serving as our birth companion with such wisdom, gentleness, and unwavering support. From our very first conversation, I knew the Lord had answered my prayers through you. Your calm presence allowed me to labor with confidence, and your care before, during, and after Isaac’s birth was an incredible blessing to our family. If you are in New Brunswick and considering a home birth, I cannot recommend Kasia highly enough.

To Summer Hutchings, thank you for capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments so beautifully. Your photographs allow us to relive the joy, peace, and emotion of Isaac’s birth every time we look at them. These images are treasures our family will cherish for generations. Your service as an extra set of hands during birth brought peace and assurance. 

Finally, I want to give all the glory to God.

Isaac’s birth was not the result of luck.

It was not because I had everything figured out.

It was because the Lord was faithful.

He faithfully led us.

He faithfully provided.

He faithfully gave us peace.

He faithfully answered prayer after prayer.

And He faithfully carried us through every step of this journey.

To anyone reading this who feels the Lord stirring something in your heart, whether it’s about birth, parenting, your health, your family, your ministry, or any other area of your life, I pray that you step out on His Word and trust Him! 

He sees the beginning from the end.

He is a good Father.

And He is always faithful to His Word! 

Thank you for reading. If this encouraged your faith be sure to send the link to a friend. 

Believing God will do amazing things in your life, 

Heather Lapier