Welcome Alexander Montgomery Diaz!
08/22/08 - 5:17pm - 7 lbs. 0.5 oz. - 19 inches
For a complete collection of photos, click here!
Well, it might have not been "Plan A", but "Plan C" worked out just fine to produce a beautiful, healthy baby boy and mommy.
It all started 3 weeks ago when I walked and walked and walked because the baby wasn't dropping. Two miles a day would bring this bugger down temporarily and he'd pop right back up into my pelvis overnight. Contractions were just NOT on the horizon. With the lateness of the baby, and the size estimated at about 8.5 pounds, Birth Plan B was put into effect and we knew we would not be having the baby at home.
Thursday night, the baby just wouldn't stop kicking me in the ribs and the frustration of being 5 days late was just getting to me. Manny was as wonderful as ever and gave me a midnight massage and we worked and worked to relax me and do some of the exercises we had been shown to bring the baby down...well, it worked...to start contractions at least!
So, at 2AM on the morning of the 22nd, I started timing contractions. As they became regular intervals at 5 minutes apart for a couple hours, Manny and I decided it was time to call the Birth Center and tell them that we were in early labor. I labored for another 2.5 hours or so as the contractions got stronger and closer together and we headed off for our baby's birthday at the Birthing Center at 8AM, Manny, his mom, my mother, and me in labor.
Baby and I were monitored through another 3 hours of contractions and were doing well as far as our heart rates and general health were concerned. Unfortunately, every time I was checked or I'd have a contraction, the baby would travel through my pelvis in the OPPOSITE direction of the exit. It was a red flag to Tonya, our midwife. We still had the option of staying at the Birth Center, but Tonya and my back-up obstetrician advised that we head to the hospital just in case.
Birth Plan C was now in full effect as I was transported with my midwife to Glendale Adventist
Hospital. Most likely they would want to give me an epidural and some pitocin to relax my pelvis and open up my cervix without the baby doing it on his own since he wouldn't come down. I was also put on standby for a C-Section. Dr. Wu would decide that quickly upon my arrival.
We got to the hospital and I was hooked up to all of the lovely machines and poked seven times before they could get the IV in right. Dr. Wu established that I should continue to labor and that the epidural should do the trick to get me dilated and get my baby OUT! After laboring on my own for 13 hours, getting halfway there to 5 cm., the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. An hour and a half later, around 4:15 pm, I was check and had completed dilation to 10 cm. I was suddenly pushing to meet my baby.
I was left for a while with my contractions at full dilation as they prepped the bed and the area for delivery. 5:00 rolled around and at every contraction I started to push. I don't know how many of you have been this numb before, but it is the most strange experience to be pushing my child out with NO feeling below my belly button...none. Manny got to help too. After crowning with a full head of dark brown hair, the doc told me to stop and told Manny to just press on my abdomen. As he pressed, he got to watch his child's head being born. Seconds later and a couple of pushes, the whole room met our beautiful Alexander Montgomery at 5:17PM on August 22. It was my brother's birthday.
He was placed on my tummy and Manny and I stimulated his nerves and immediately began bonding with this handsome new fella. We found out shortly thereafter, when I birthed the placenta, that the cord was only 6 inches log and the shortest my OB had ever seen. We had a natural born bungee jumper. Every time he tried to come down into my pelvis, he was just pulled right back up by the cord. Luckily, my placenta was low and there were no further complications than that and we both made it out unscathed.
We were required to stay 24 hours after the birth, so Manny and I stayed up all night taking turns holding the baby so the other could dose briefly, and Alexander just slept. We all came home on Saturday just after 5:00 and have been eating, pooping, and sleeping ever since...yes, all three of us. Feedings have been going very well and with the help of my mom (grandma Bumble Bee), Manny and I have even slept a little. I am a little sore for obvious reasons (we have the photos to back me up if anyone is interested), but nothing a little epsom salt won't fix.
So that's it for the most part, leaving out stories of my WONDERFUL midwife, Tonya, and the HORRIBLE nurse, Lilian, and the amazing support from Manny and both of our spectacular mothers.
For a complete collection of photos, click here!
Well, it might have not been "Plan A", but "Plan C" worked out just fine to produce a beautiful, healthy baby boy and mommy.It all started 3 weeks ago when I walked and walked and walked because the baby wasn't dropping. Two miles a day would bring this bugger down temporarily and he'd pop right back up into my pelvis overnight. Contractions were just NOT on the horizon. With the lateness of the baby, and the size estimated at about 8.5 pounds, Birth Plan B was put into effect and we knew we would not be having the baby at home.
Thursday night, the baby just wouldn't stop kicking me in the ribs and the frustration of being 5 days late was just getting to me. Manny was as wonderful as ever and gave me a midnight massage and we worked and worked to relax me and do some of the exercises we had been shown to bring the baby down...well, it worked...to start contractions at least!
So, at 2AM on the morning of the 22nd, I started timing contractions. As they became regular intervals at 5 minutes apart for a couple hours, Manny and I decided it was time to call the Birth Center and tell them that we were in early labor. I labored for another 2.5 hours or so as the contractions got stronger and closer together and we headed off for our baby's birthday at the Birthing Center at 8AM, Manny, his mom, my mother, and me in labor.
Baby and I were monitored through another 3 hours of contractions and were doing well as far as our heart rates and general health were concerned. Unfortunately, every time I was checked or I'd have a contraction, the baby would travel through my pelvis in the OPPOSITE direction of the exit. It was a red flag to Tonya, our midwife. We still had the option of staying at the Birth Center, but Tonya and my back-up obstetrician advised that we head to the hospital just in case.
Birth Plan C was now in full effect as I was transported with my midwife to Glendale Adventist
Hospital. Most likely they would want to give me an epidural and some pitocin to relax my pelvis and open up my cervix without the baby doing it on his own since he wouldn't come down. I was also put on standby for a C-Section. Dr. Wu would decide that quickly upon my arrival.We got to the hospital and I was hooked up to all of the lovely machines and poked seven times before they could get the IV in right. Dr. Wu established that I should continue to labor and that the epidural should do the trick to get me dilated and get my baby OUT! After laboring on my own for 13 hours, getting halfway there to 5 cm., the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. An hour and a half later, around 4:15 pm, I was check and had completed dilation to 10 cm. I was suddenly pushing to meet my baby.
I was left for a while with my contractions at full dilation as they prepped the bed and the area for delivery. 5:00 rolled around and at every contraction I started to push. I don't know how many of you have been this numb before, but it is the most strange experience to be pushing my child out with NO feeling below my belly button...none. Manny got to help too. After crowning with a full head of dark brown hair, the doc told me to stop and told Manny to just press on my abdomen. As he pressed, he got to watch his child's head being born. Seconds later and a couple of pushes, the whole room met our beautiful Alexander Montgomery at 5:17PM on August 22. It was my brother's birthday.
He was placed on my tummy and Manny and I stimulated his nerves and immediately began bonding with this handsome new fella. We found out shortly thereafter, when I birthed the placenta, that the cord was only 6 inches log and the shortest my OB had ever seen. We had a natural born bungee jumper. Every time he tried to come down into my pelvis, he was just pulled right back up by the cord. Luckily, my placenta was low and there were no further complications than that and we both made it out unscathed.
So that's it for the most part, leaving out stories of my WONDERFUL midwife, Tonya, and the HORRIBLE nurse, Lilian, and the amazing support from Manny and both of our spectacular mothers.Welcome home my sweet baby Alexander!
1 comment:
YAY!!! Congratulations!!! He's SO handsome! So happy to hear that all of you are doing well - good luck in the coming weeks and months - sounds like y'all will be just fine :)
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