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Joined Aug. 14, 2018 7:58pm

ericalee2's Pregnancy

My Due Date: March 27, 2019
I have given birth!
Age: 40 years old

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Welcome Niko Lee!
By ericalee2 » Posted Apr. 30, 2019 6:31pm - 780 views - 4 comments

I know I am WAY behind on posting about our little man's arrival. Sorry! Life has been busy!

I ended up being induced (wah wah) and labor took way longer than I expected. I thought my body would kick things into gear quickly, but it really wanted me to soak in all the loveliness that labor is apparently. ;) We got to the hospital at 5am, got everything rolling by 6am and he was born at 9:20pm on 3/20.

My husband actually almost missed the birth. LOL. I got an epidural about an hour prior to him being born, as I just couldn't take it any longer. Getting the epidural wasn't fun... again. I told them about my histories with difficult epidural insertions and that I'd been told my back is "off"... after 5 attempts and it being VERY VERY VERY uncomfortable, they finally got it in and agreed that my back is definitely off down there. Fun times! Glad it will definitely be the last time I'll be in labor.

My husband ordered sushi for delivery for us to enjoy after the baby arrived since it was getting late and he wasn't sure if there'd be time to order it still. It arrived and my husband went to pick it up in the lobby and put it in the mother's room fridge. Well, then the delivery guy calls him back saying he forgot to give him part of the order. I had just been checked and they said I had at least an hour before I would likely deliver. He ran down to get the missing piece of the order, they roll me to my left side so the epidural doesn't soak in too much on one side and then they keep losing his heartbeat. They get it for a second, lose it, find it, lose it. So finally they decide they are going to have to put it in his scalp to monitor him appropriately. My OB is teaching a resident and med student that day and starts to insert her fingers to show them and goes "OH! You're complete and he's almost out". It had been like 2 minutes. They start scrambling to get everything ready since my body is essentially pushing the baby out. My doula is calling Adam, no answer... no answer. I finally try him again and he answers and I say "Yo, we're about to have a baby can you come to the room?" To which everyone else laughed. He was just across the hall putting the last thing in the fridge and bolts over, half laughing half in a tizzy. They gown him up quickly. Two contractions later, Niko Lee Perez was born! :)

He's perfect! Such a chill baby and he is just so beautiful. I know handsome seems more appropriate for a boy, but he's beautiful. He had the perfect round little head since he came down the birth canal like he was being shot out of a canon. :)

Things are going well so far. Big brother and sister LOVE him. Definitely have had some jealousy issues, but they are directed at me, not Niko. Today, April 30th, is actually my 36th birthday and as a gift to myself I am giving myself permission to stop breast feeding and pumping. I have always struggled with low supply and have been doing fairly well this time, but I feel like I spend my entire day staring at a clock. "Oh my god he should eat again" or "oh I need to pump". I just want to enjoy him and our other children. It's also really hard to figure it all out when my husband is working a 24 hour shift and I am solo parenting. Going through some emotions about it, but I know it'll get better and better. Fed is best, right?!

I'll post some photos in the regular photo section in a little while.

We feel so beyond blessed for this perfect little boy. I NEVER thought I could have a pregnancy without all the crazy interventions. He has certainly completed our family.

Comments for this Journal Entry

Comment from sonata85 » Posted May. 3, 2019 8:14pm
I am so happy that all is well, and huge congratulations! As for the breastfeeding, I had low supply with my first so was really really hoping things would be different the second time around. I did pump for 5 months with my first and supplement mostly. It started off better with my 2nd even though she was more premature, but my 13 month old completely freaked out whenever I used the breast pump. She would tear it off of me literally. So then I would sit outside of her play area, and she screamed. I used nursing covers and a blanket, and she still screamed. My 2nd was in the NICU for 3 weeks, so when she came home it was maybe just 2 or 3 more weeks until I said goodbye to pumping and trying to BF. It was better to have both girls happy than pump all the time. Though I get the mixed emotions.

Comment from Libelula264 » Posted May. 3, 2019 1:36am
So very happy to read about beautiful baby Niko's arrival! My body decided to marinate in the beauty of labor for my 3rd and last baby, too - a letdown/surprise after two relatively fast labors. :) Happy birthday and congratulations on completing your family.

Comment from MalPal85 » Posted May. 2, 2019 4:58pm
Congratulations to you! Loved reading your story and the sushi story is hilarious! You're right, fed it best! You made it a lot longer than I did as I felt like I was just staring at a clock as well. I'm not even going to attempt breastfeeding with my second that is due in August because it play with my emotions too much. So glad your family is doing well!

Comment from calvingirl » Posted May. 1, 2019 5:24pm
YAY! Welcome Niko! Congratulations! I was thinking about you the other day and am so glad everything went so well and your little prince is here. Happy Birthday, and yes, fed is best. You lasted 6 wks, and that's great. I'm also struggling with low supply and it's been a battle - I totally know what you mean about watching the clock. Phoebe has never been off of supplement formula and gets most of her food that way. After 4 months, I've relaxed enough to realize that we've found a good mix for us. She still loves to nurse, but gets very little, so she nurses when she wants comfort, and she gets bottles to fill her stomach. That is working for us for now. I definitely hate pumping though - I totally get you there. I'm so happy your family is complete and happy, and your sushi story is hilarious!


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