Rough Start

John Joseph Garcia was born Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 2:56am. He weighed in at 7 pounds 10 ounces and measured 19 inches. He is a normal, beautiful baby. Although he had a rough start.....

Saturday evening, we went to the hospital with steady and constant contractions around 6pm. Finally, at 9:30pm the doctor cleared the nursing staff to admit us to the hospital.

Shortly the nursing staff became concerned with baby John’s heart rate falling during contractions. Everything was within normal limits, so all it required was close, continual monitoring. Active labor was progressing into the final stages and the contractions were increasing in intensity so likewise John’s heart rate fell further and further. It was now to the point of a concern.

The delivery exacerbated the already deteriorating condition of John’s heart rate. After several attempts to naturally birth John, the doctor was forced to deliver John with forceps when his heart rate fell from critical to crisis. John’s heart rate was gone and he was rushed to the waiting staff.

John was placed lifeless on the warming table in the delivery room where he was surrounded by 5 medics trying to revive him. They called a code blue and 7 more medical staffers rushed into the delivery room. The seconds ticked like minutes to us. Finally we heard the beep, John’s heart was finally beating on its own. Tears flowed.

Finally, John then let out a cry and the entire room let out a sigh of relief. After about 15 minutes of working with John, they brought him over for us to hold. Then John was wheeled to the nursery for more tests and continuous care. As a new Mom and Dad, we collected ourselves and our things, and move to the postpartum ward.

Due to the trauma associated with his delivery John was confined to the nursery for 24 hours. We were given unlimited access to visit with him but he still required monitoring and nursing care.

Monday morning they brought John out of the nursery to our room where he stayed with us ever since. Tuesday afternoon both Mom and Baby were discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health. The pediatricians who examined John on Monday and Tuesday say that nothing is lingering as a result of the delivery.

Both mom and baby have taken well to breastfeeding and everyone is okay. The midnight feedings and frequent diaper changes are beginning to wear on the new parents. Help is on the way; Jean’s parent will be staying with us for a week followed by my parents and then my Warren grandparents. The help is much appreciated and extent a welcome to anyone who want to visit and assist us with household chores.