By Kristina Stucki
Journal contributor
Lauren Wiederspohn and Anthony Stephens welcomed the first island baby of the year on Jan. 15.
Sophia Lynn Stephens, or Sophie as they’re already calling her, is healthy and eating well, and back on the island taking strolls to the bakery with Mom and Dad.
“Little lass is here!!” Wiederspohn announced on social media. “We are cozy and resting after a big, big day.”
Birth stories are always complicated for islanders, considering the lack of OB-GYN providers and no birthing center or labor and delivery department at the local hospital.
Wiederspohn was able to get all prenatal care on the island with a local midwife, but opted for a mainland delivery just in case there were complications.
Luckily, her grandmother has a home near Bellingham that they planned on using in case of any necessary long-term off-island care. They chose Birthroot birth center in Bellingham for the big event — but had to deal with the typical pregnant-islander debate of when to get on the ferry.
“The ferries were absolutely an interesting obstacle for our birth plan,” Wiederspohn explained. “The night I went into labor, we had to quickly weigh if my contractions were intense enough to go on the last ferry of the night. This meant getting a hotel — where we only stayed for an hour and a half before heading to the birth center. Thank goodness we decided to take that last ferry! Sophie was born at 6 a.m. the following morning. It could have been a much more chaotic night!”
Wiederspohn came to the island in June 2022 after graduating from college and seeking adventure back in her home state. She began building a tiny house on her own while working at Alphabet Soup Preschool. She needed help with some projects and asked her coworkers if they knew anyone and one of the student’s uncles volunteered. That uncle was none other than Stephens.
“We met up and hit it off right away!” Wiederspohn recalled.
Two years later, little baby Sophie arrived. Already known for her easygoing nature, the button-nosed, full-haired newborn has her dad’s eyes.
“She has won the hearts of both of our families,” Wiederspohn smiled, “and has been properly fawned over by all who meet her.”