9.5.22

Dear Cas,

Welcome to our family. You were the last piece. And with Mom, Noa, Maya and Clem we’re outnumbered, but it’s nice to have another male in our crew. 

Labor Day, of all days, is when you chose to join us. The day began with mom having her first early labor contractions around 3am. They continued until about 8am and then teetered off. We took the dogs and Noa on the piano loop and it wasn’t until about 2 hours later before the next contractions started. After chatting with Lisa, the midwife, we chose to go in for the 41 week appointment, as scheduled. GP and Trish came over at 2 to watch Noa and the pups while your mom and I headed to Colorado Birth and Wellness in Lowry, CO (which was an hour drive from our home). 

When we got there for the 3pm appointment, the contractions had started to be a bit more intense, but were still in the early labor phase. Lisa did an ultrasound and non-stress test to see how you were doing and after passing all, decided it was ok to do a membrane sweep. She claimed mom was only 1-2cm dilated (50% effaced). She recommended we get a hotel room, but also made us aware that this could be awhile for things to get going. We left the office around 4:20pm and as we were walking down the stairs to the parking lot, the contractions got way stronger all of a sudden. In the lobby of the building I found a hotel room close by and booked a room. 

The Hilton Garden Inn was about 3 miles away from the birth center. Driving there the contractions continued to increase and were pretty much locked in at every 2 minutes lasting for 45-90 seconds. We made it to our room and the contractions continued to get more intense. I called Lisa and she thought we should come back in. We spent a whole 30 minutes in room 216 at basically a rate of $5/minute ;)

Upon arriving back at the birthing center Lisa met us in the lobby to assist getting mom to a room. The contractions were super intense at this point. We were the only patients in there and got the “Water” room we requested. Mom started her labor process hunched over the bed for a few while we filled the bath tub. Lisa figured the tub would make her feel better and allow her to calm a bit. At this point the contractions were coming so often mom really didn’t have a chance to reset in between. 

The tub was soothing, but didn’t really slow anything down. Mom started on her knees down on one end before laying back on her side. At this point two other midwives came into the room, Gina and Paige. The tub lasted 45 minutes and Lisa told me mom was about 2-3cm dilated at this point. Mom got in the tub early on with Noa as well but had a long way to go between then and when Noa was born so I was a little nervous this would potentially be the case again. 

Following the tub we got mom on the bed on her side with a peanut ball between her legs. The midwives were listening to your heartbeat and vitals and everything was checking out ok. After she got out of the tub but before getting in the bed her water broke. You, just like your sis, had already pooped - so meconium came out in the gush of water. The contractions were intensifying a lot at this point and Lisa even told mom that if she felt her body wanting to push to try it. Mom pushed through a couple breaths and I am not entirely sure what was going on, but when I asked Lisa, she had gotten to 9cm very quickly. She was worried that her cervix wasn’t completely dilated and noticed it was swelling. They gave mom some arnica tablets to help with that. 

After about 30-45min longer of mom doing everything she could to breathe through the contractions and not push, they decided to give her some Nitrous Oxide to help calm her and hopefully let her cervix complete its process. She breathed the NO2 for about 15 minutes then we rolled her over the bed to her knees to try a new position. At this point things were really progressing and after about 10 minutes or so they had mom push again. At this point your head started to appear and then it was go time. I started to cry and mom pushed really hard and your head came out! BUT you were stuck due to your shoulder (shoulder dystocia)! Everything had progressed so quickly that your body didn’t seem to have enough time to get into proper positioning to exit, which is potentially why your shoulder got stuck. She had to push through 2 more contractions while your head was out and then we rolled her onto her back with her legs up before 1 more contraction finally enabled Lisa to get you out! You finally arrived at 8:00 pm on the dot!

Once out you were positioned on mom’s chest while they pumped you with oxygen and checked your vitals. They were low, but you came around fine. The placenta came out about 10 minutes later and I was able to cut the cord. They gave mom a shot of pitocin due to blood loss. You had yourself your first meal from mom and then we had you to ourselves for the next hour. Mom took a bath and you laid on me for a while then we did your exams. You measured 21 inches long and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces. Mom was in active labor from about 4:30pm to 8pm! (17hrs total counting the early labor). So much faster than your sister’s birth - you were ready!

After some paperwork and instructions we said goodbye to the 3 amazing midwives – we left to go home at 12:15am. We got home just after 1am and you met Maya and Clem and the GP and Trish before heading to bed in your new home!

We are so thrilled to have you here with us finally and can’t wait for our new fam adventures to begin!

+++

Now let’s talk about the world you just joined today. Our family is in a really good place at the moment. We live in Conifer, CO just outside of Denver at 8200 feet of elevation. Noa is in the toddler room at Montessori School of Evergreen, which we hope to have you in after you turn 1. We have 2 rescue dogs, Maya who turns 12 this month and Clem who turns 5 the same day as Noa and Mom. We love our little cabin in the woods here that backs up to Flying J Park and can’t wait for you to get to explore this area. 

In March of 2020 our country basically shutdown due to a virus that spread out of control called Covid-19. Your sister was born right at the beginning of it and here you are and we are still dealing with it. There’s an anticipated spike coming this fall so hopefully this pandemic is fading away. Joe Biden is currently the president and while things are somewhat calm politically, the United States of America is a hot mess. Russia invaded the Ukraine over 6 months ago, Pakistan just had major floods and a third of the country was under water, gun violence and abortion rights are 2 huge flaws with country and the list goes on sadly. We have made it our mission to make both you and your sister aware of the problems of the world and be better humans as a result and to value and understand empathy. 

Love, 

-Dad