Baby Levi - October 1st
"I can't express how informative Tracy's class was. It seems like everything she mentioned, we encountered one way or another. From how to get through a natural birth, which we accomplished to the fullest as well as a cesarean and what to do and how to go about it, which we accomplished as well."
Baby Levi Gonzalez
October 1st at 10:44am at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
9lbs 3oz, and 21 inches.
He is a big healthy boy, but the labor process was one for the books, in regards to to having a birth plan, and having to completely deviate from it because of the circumstances we were faced with.
Our Birth Story:
The morning of the birth was an ideal day, just like Tracy talked about wanting to have. We went to church in the morning with friends and even ran into Tracy, which was nice. We expressed how we were ready for the baby any day, but knew we could have another 2 weeks to go so we were trying to remain calm. We went on with our day having breakfast with friends and decided to spend the afternoon at the beach. We went to Hammonds beach, laid in the sand, and floated around in the ocean. Around 5pm, I started to feel uncomfortable and couldn't decide if I wanted to sit or stand, eat or drink, stay or go home, so we decided to head home. By the time we got home, I was beginning to have major lower back cramps and irregular contractions. By 7pm, Carlos began to log my contractions, 10 minutes apart at 30-60 seconds.
This went on for hours and by midnight, Carlos fell asleep and I paced the hallways finding it uncomfortable to sit or sleep. At 1:15a.m., my water had broke and boy did it. You will know when this happens for sure! Having started contractions at 7p.m., I felt it was time to go to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 a.m. By 2:00 a.m., I had my first check, and was 2cm dilated.
Now approaching the transition stage, contractions continued to get more intense and more consistent. {Note from Carlos - GUYS, do everything Tracy has taught us, it works, and really helps sets the mood.}
By 7:30am I was 10cm, fully dilated. This was amazing, going from 2cm to 10cm in 5 1/2 hrs with no medication. I felt like "I did it" and now its time to push. I pushed and pushed and pushed. After 3 hours of pushing I started to feel defeated. After the doctor noted my exhaustion, she informed us that the baby might be having a difficult time and that we may need a c-section. Wanting a
natural birth so badly we had a hard time agreeing to this, but the doc informed us that the baby's head was not able to pass the pelvic bone. We gave it one more contraction, but no luck and off to the OR we went.
Within minutes, the doc says " I told you this baby wasn't coming out on his own", and with a big cry, there he was. Carlos followed him over to the the table, where they cleaned him up and he got to hold his hand. They quickly brought him over to Mommy, so that she could hold him. Carlos went with him to the nursery, as Tracy had suggested, and got to see how big he actually was. Mommy was sewed up quickly while Dr. Echt continued to verbally lighten the mood. I then went to a recovery room where Carlos was able to meet me with Baby Levi.
We are truly blessed to have already been at the hospital where medical intervention was needed. Looking back, we fall into the 10% of natural births that needed medical assistance. Levi had a little case of Jaundice so we both spent 5 days at the hospital recovering, under the very helpful staff's supervision. I am truly amazed at the new Cottage hospital facility and its staff.
I can't express how informative Tracy's class was. It seems like everything she mentioned, we encountered one way or another. From how to get through a natural birth, which we accomplished to the fullest as well as a cesarean and what to do and how to go about it, which we accomplished as well. Carlos felt very confident with every question he was faced with and was an extremely helpful coach during the birthing classes. He still walks around and sprays the aroma therapy over me!
The Gonzalez Family
October 1st at 10:44am at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
9lbs 3oz, and 21 inches.
He is a big healthy boy, but the labor process was one for the books, in regards to to having a birth plan, and having to completely deviate from it because of the circumstances we were faced with.
Our Birth Story:
The morning of the birth was an ideal day, just like Tracy talked about wanting to have. We went to church in the morning with friends and even ran into Tracy, which was nice. We expressed how we were ready for the baby any day, but knew we could have another 2 weeks to go so we were trying to remain calm. We went on with our day having breakfast with friends and decided to spend the afternoon at the beach. We went to Hammonds beach, laid in the sand, and floated around in the ocean. Around 5pm, I started to feel uncomfortable and couldn't decide if I wanted to sit or stand, eat or drink, stay or go home, so we decided to head home. By the time we got home, I was beginning to have major lower back cramps and irregular contractions. By 7pm, Carlos began to log my contractions, 10 minutes apart at 30-60 seconds.
This went on for hours and by midnight, Carlos fell asleep and I paced the hallways finding it uncomfortable to sit or sleep. At 1:15a.m., my water had broke and boy did it. You will know when this happens for sure! Having started contractions at 7p.m., I felt it was time to go to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 a.m. By 2:00 a.m., I had my first check, and was 2cm dilated.
Now approaching the transition stage, contractions continued to get more intense and more consistent. {Note from Carlos - GUYS, do everything Tracy has taught us, it works, and really helps sets the mood.}
By 7:30am I was 10cm, fully dilated. This was amazing, going from 2cm to 10cm in 5 1/2 hrs with no medication. I felt like "I did it" and now its time to push. I pushed and pushed and pushed. After 3 hours of pushing I started to feel defeated. After the doctor noted my exhaustion, she informed us that the baby might be having a difficult time and that we may need a c-section. Wanting a
natural birth so badly we had a hard time agreeing to this, but the doc informed us that the baby's head was not able to pass the pelvic bone. We gave it one more contraction, but no luck and off to the OR we went.
Within minutes, the doc says " I told you this baby wasn't coming out on his own", and with a big cry, there he was. Carlos followed him over to the the table, where they cleaned him up and he got to hold his hand. They quickly brought him over to Mommy, so that she could hold him. Carlos went with him to the nursery, as Tracy had suggested, and got to see how big he actually was. Mommy was sewed up quickly while Dr. Echt continued to verbally lighten the mood. I then went to a recovery room where Carlos was able to meet me with Baby Levi.
We are truly blessed to have already been at the hospital where medical intervention was needed. Looking back, we fall into the 10% of natural births that needed medical assistance. Levi had a little case of Jaundice so we both spent 5 days at the hospital recovering, under the very helpful staff's supervision. I am truly amazed at the new Cottage hospital facility and its staff.
I can't express how informative Tracy's class was. It seems like everything she mentioned, we encountered one way or another. From how to get through a natural birth, which we accomplished to the fullest as well as a cesarean and what to do and how to go about it, which we accomplished as well. Carlos felt very confident with every question he was faced with and was an extremely helpful coach during the birthing classes. He still walks around and sprays the aroma therapy over me!
The Gonzalez Family