On the day after Labor Day, the last thing anyone expected was for a teacher to go into labor. But that’s exactly what happened at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School this past Tuesday.
6th grade reading teacher Lindsay Agbalokwu was scheduled for induced labor on Friday. However, on Tuesday morning, after Morning Meeting, she was in immense pain, and 7th grade reading teacher Marissa Kast got ready to drive her to the hospital. However, the new baby had other plans.
As Dean Chris Earls was helping Lindsay down the stairs to meet Marissa by the parking lot, School Director Natalie Lewis joined them. By the time the three of them made it to the sidewalk, Lindsay knew she was well on her way to deliver her baby, and there may not be time to get to the hospital.
After calling 911 and being instructed to prepare for delivery, Marissa laid a sleeping bag from her car on the sidewalk, and together with the 911 dispatcher on speakerphone, the team delivered the baby right then and there. Natalie, mother of two, and Chris, father of four, reminded Lindsey that they were all in it together, and just like generations of women before her, she was entirely capable of delivering the baby, despite the circumstances.
Things moved fast- only 25 minutes had passed from the time they worked their way out of the building to the delivery outside. The firefighters were there to catch the healthy baby and give her to her brave mother. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived, taking Lindsay and baby Zara to the hospital.
Natalie had taken a course in natural birth before delivering her two children, and everything she had learned unfolded right in front of her eyes on Tuesday. This background knowledge, and the fact that she had personally went through the experience of childbirth, was incredibly grounding during this stressful morning. The ability to stay present and in tune with the people around her was also really important. Natalie shared how deeply listening to Lindsay was essential. Many times, our instincts can rush us straight to action, however, simply listening can reveal the best plan. In this case, it was to stay on campus, because Zara was well on her way into the world!
Congratulations to new mom Lindsay Agbalokwu, and to Natalie Lewis, Chris Earls, and Marissa Kast for showing incredible grace under pressure. They may deliver great results for students every day- but this week, they delivered a baby!