Baby Levi's here!!

Levi Alejandro Koskey-Diaz
Born 2/9/14 7:30 pm
7lb 13 oz
Mom and Baby are healthy and well! 

So here he is...our precious bundle of joy! And boy did he make an exciting entrance into the world! Here is our birth story:

Last Sunday, 10 days before Levi's actual due date, Marcelo and I had spent the morning running errands to get last minute baby items. Our friend Tasha was so kind in hooking us up with so many useful items, we also went to Target (thank you to my family for the gift card!) and to a baby re-sale shop. It was a good morning, and I felt nothing out of the usual.

At 3:30 that afternoon I had two brief periods of pain in my abdomen and wondered if they were Braxton-Hicks (practice) contractions and didn't think too much of them, though they were pretty painful. At about 4pm I experienced a very strong contraction that had me on the living room floor, on all fours, in tears, and moaning. Woah! The contractions then alternated between mild and painful for the next hour or so but we still weren't sure if it was Prodromal (false) labor or not. We called our Doula after about an hour and she recommended to sit tight and that it was highly unlikely that I would be having the baby any time soon. I agreed with her, seeing as though what we learned is that an average first labor is usually between 12-18 hours. Also, it wasn't his due date yet and the week prior, my ob-gyn had told me my baby was small, only 5 - 5.5 lbs, which is only the 55th percentile of size for his age, which also led me to believe he would be cooking a little bit longer!

Boy were we all wrong, lol. Live and learn!

The contractions continued, and became stronger. We, (Marcelo and I), were timing them to see if we should go to the hospital, but they didn't seem to have a specific ending all the time and I think both of us were a bit confused. We also learned and heard from so many that it's important to try to labor at home for as long as possible, the hospital also won't admit patients until 4cm dilation. We had no idea just how far along we were at that point. We were also trying to pack our hospital bags in-between contractions which was a funny scene as we were running all over the house, and I was like "get the bread! and the peanut butter!" Lol, it was so chaotic. I also planned to wear my own outfit at the hospital, and all i could do was just grab whatever was on top in my closet. The contractions were getting so painful that they sent me to the floor and eventually Marcelo didn't want me trying to walk anymore.

I laid on the bed, mostly on my side and had Marcelo use counter-pressure, pushing in and down on my lower back, which really helped with the pain at times. The contractions were indeed the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, actually the word "pain" or any words trying to describe how unbearable it was fall completely short. All I could say was "I need an epidural!" And this is very ironic b/c I was so into the idea of a natural birth and breathing through the pain and mind over matter. I had been practicing birthing affirmations and breathing for months. When the pain hit, all of my practice felt like one tiny drop in the ocean of excruciating pain. I literally thought I was going to die from the pain.

As labor progressed, and I entered what is known as the "transition" phase of labor, although I didn't know it. That's the most painful part, before pushing. Instinctualy, at this point, I knew I couldn't ride in a car. I couldn't physically be sitting upright and not have Marcelo fully available. I got up and walked into the living room, squatted down on one knee, leaning over my coffee table and began to scream unlike I have ever screamed before. My body had started bearing down to push! And I had completely no control over it!

At this point, I think we were both pretty scared. Marcelo called 911 and I heard them giving instructions to him on what to do. ie - "tell her not to push!," lol, which was not an option b/c I couldn't help it, "make sure her underwear is off," and "have clean towels down on the floor." The dispatcher had to repeat the instructions as my screaming was so loud Marcelo could not hear him. At this point, things went into a blur for me, I was in another dimension, in a very strange way. I heard Marcelo say "I can see the baby's head crowning!" 

A few seconds later 4 firemen and 1 firewoman, in full regalia, are inside our apartment helping me to lay on my back and setting up equipment for delivery. I pushed twice and the baby was out! The baby was born just about 4 minutes after help arrived and just 3 and a half hours after my labor started. Thank goodness the paramedics were there to facilitate the delivery including checking the baby and the cord clamping, Marcelo got to cut the cord. :-)

So much for our very detailed birth plan that we had spent several hours with our Doula, and on our own, discussing and creating, lol.

I had imagined and dreamed about the moment of meeting and holding my baby and looking into his eyes for the first time. I had imagined it being so emotional and that I would cry of joy. When Levi was delivered, I was in such a state of shock and my body was in such intense over drive from all of the pain/endorphins/birth. All I could do was just keep laying there on the floor and was not really even clear headed at that moment, I wasn't sure if I was OK or not yet. I didn't have the urge to push anymore to deliver the placenta, so I needed to be transported to the hospital via stretcher to complete the birth. They wheeled me out and I rode with the baby and firemen in the back of the fire truck to Kaiser. Marcelo met us there.

Once there, they examined the baby, he was doing good. I birthed the placenta with out much issue and finally got to hold him! it was a dream! Just a miraculous moment in time that I will never forget. Unfortunately I had to give him back while I got stitched up for an internal 3rd degree tear that was bleeding a lot. Marcelo was awesome as he stayed face to face with me and we did deep breathing together and practiced calming affirmations during the 25 minute procedure. Gah, not fun, but on a scale of 1 to 100, the pain of labor is definitely a 100, and getting injections and stitches in my lady parts was a 1 in comparison. No comparison! I guess on the upside, my pain scale has grown exponentially. Ha!

As things wound down and my body finally stopped quivering and I began to relax and return to fully present consciousness, I was filled with such a great sense of relief that baby was born healthy, I was good, and I could start to relax and enjoy the baby. He was so perfect. What a blessing!

Kaiser provided us with the utmost of excellent care as we spent the next 48 hours in the hospital recuperating and getting some testing done for the baby.  We saw so many different providers, they really covered all the bases and were so helpful with the baby as well.

Here we are in the photo below marveling at the miracle of life and this angelic boy who we are so grateful to have as our son. 

Although the birthing experience was totally unexpected and had its scary moments, there are 2 major blessings regarding the events (besides getting a baby out of the deal, lol!). One is that Marcelo was home at the time my labor started. The second is that we didn't try to get into the car and drive to the hospital, after we realized we needed to go, as I quite possibly would have delivered either in the car or in a parking lot somewhere! Yikes! 

Many folks I have talked to tell me I am so lucky that my labor was so short. One of the doctors asked if I do yoga and when i told her I have been practicing regularly for the past 15 years, she told me that could be why things went to quick for me.

Visiting us at the hospital: Abuela (Grandma)! And Auntie Esme!

 And of course, we always have to keep laughing and find the humor in everything: Due to my 3rd degree laceration, you know where, I was prescribed "Geri Care Stool Softener." Lol, totally joking with my brothers that I am the first one of us to take a geriatric product! Woohoo!

I wanted to post the announcement and pics earlier but omg, being a parent has totally thrown us for a loop! We have definitely entered parenthood. Ha! Marcelo and I have a new slogan "every minute counts!" Meaning even one minute of sleep is a valuable thing. It has been a huge adjustment and we are starting to get into a groove of sleeping/staying up in shifts, taking turns. After a week I am very emotional, but starting to feel a bit human again.

Marcelo's Mom has been so incredible and I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge her. She has been visiting us every day, cooking meals for us, cleaning, watching the baby, spending the night to take shifts, providing emotional support, teaching me how to do things like bathe the baby, etc. While we were in the hospital, she cleaned up and laundered every linen on our bed and when we arrived home in a frazzled state it was soo nice to come home to such cleanliness! We are so lucky to have her!

Below: Abuelo y Abuela; Grandpa and Grandma, Marcelo's parents. They love their boy! 

I also have to acknowledge how amazing Marcelo has been as a partner and Father in the past week. He always is, but he handled everything so calmly, he was so present and available and loving and caring to me. It's incredible, just today he brought me fresh strawberries and avocados, he's been so supportive and checking in with me, and I admit, he has stayed up with the baby in the wee hours more than I have. I have been such a basket case from lack of sleep that last night he stayed in the living room all night caring for baby, just bringing him to me every few hours for feedings so i could get a full 6-7 hours of sleep. Today I feel so much better! He is the best!

 Here is Levi getting some "skin to skin" time with Daddy at the hospital.

 

Sweet cheeks!

Mom and baby resting at home.

Seventh Heaven

So here we are! So excited about our new family member! All the blessings we have had in this experience. I know my angels are with me and have been at work. So grateful right now. Welcome baby Levi!

 Please do feel free to be in touch with us! Apologies if I can't answer/respond right away but I will do my best! xoxo