Diezel Alexander is here!

Hi mamas!

It's been quite some time since I've been able to access a computer but I wanted to stop in to let everyone know that I had a baby boy, Diezel Alexander, on March 3. He is a beautiful mellow babe and it's such a blessing to have him home - though it took some time to get him there!

My water broke early morning on March 2. We called the midwife and agreed to meet him towards lunch time - hoping that contractions would get started up by that time.... Unfortunately nothing got started but the MW did let us go home for the rest of the afternoon to try a dose of castor oil, in hopes of avoiding an induction. Tried it but had zero luck with it (actually - would not recommend it to anyone, it just made me extremely ill).

So, ended up in the hospital around 6 that evening at the MW's recommendation and, unfortunately, nothing at the hospital went as I had hoped or planned for (even so - the labor and birth was an amazing and beautiful experience). Ended up on antibiotics because I was beta positive, was started on pitocin, strapped to an external fetal monitor, in bed with residents and students in and out, etc.... I got stuck with just about everything I had wanted to avoid! We made it through all this, though, and our beautiful boy was born at 4:36 AM on the 3rd.

Unfortunately, our troubles didn't end there, though. Diezel was taken immediately to the NICU after his birth. There was concern because he was only 35 weeks, because my membranes had been ruptured for 24 hours, because I had a low grade fever when he was born AND because I was beta positive. It was hoped that he'd only have to be there for a couple of days for monitoriing but it turned out they found he had a case of pneumonia! So, the poor little guy ended up being in the NICU for 7 days total. It was awful - my heart goes out to those mamas who have babies in need of long term hospital care! I never imagined (I never actually thought that I'd have to) how extremely emotional it is having to be away from your babe for any amount of time.
Anyway - after 7 days in the NICU (and a hospital transfer), we were finally able to bring Diezel home. He's doing well - though we were never able to work the breastfeeding out (so I've been pumping and giving him breastmilk in a bottle). I'm so very happy to have him home, though!

Well - have to get going.... Wish I could catch up on how everyone is doing but unfortunately, I don't have the computer access at the moment.
So - many, many blessing and positive vibes going out to everyone! I hope everyone has the labor and delivery they are hoping for - and if not, that you are able to do you best to deal with (and still find the beauty in) whatever type of birth you do have. And lots of healthy vibes to all those beautiful babes about to be born!