Kojo’s Birth Story

So imagine my surprise when I woke up and realized that I was leaking amniotic fluid! I wasn’t sure at first, but a trip to my OB confirmed it, along with some high blood pressure readings that were concerning. It honestly could have been the fact that I had eaten some salty Di’Gorno pizza (because I knew that if was amniotic fluid, I would have to go to the hospital, where I would be starved).

When I came home from the doctor’s, Kwasi insisted that it was “too early” to go, and that if I had not gone to the dr., I wouldn’t even have known that my BP was high, and so, “just stay home” was his…uh…MEDICAL advice. *rolling my eyes* We even got into a big argument because I couldn’t believe he was trying to deter me from going to the hospital! MEN!!

We silently drove to the hospital on what should have been an exciting trip, but instead, I was pissed, and he insisted I apologize to him for mistreating him (UGH). Thankfully we later mutually apologized. What good would it be to be upset when we were having a BABY?!

Anyhow, we arrived to the hospital around 1:00 p.m. We got checked in, escorted to our room (Delivery Room #5), and damn near scolded by a nice nurse about not coming sooner since my water started to leak around 7 a.m. and here it was already 1:30-ish by the time I was getting hooked up the monitors and stuff. The baby’s heart rate was all over the place–instead of being in the range of 110-160 bpm, which is what they would like to see, his heart rate was super fast, around 175 and even in the 180’s. When I had my first big contraction (which were rarely occurring at this point), the poor little guy’s heart rate dipped to low 90’s! Staff in the masses started gathering at my door, and I was afraid that I was going to have to be taken for a stat C-section. This was NOT what his heart rate was supposed to do.

They started me on some IV fluids (yes, I was dehydrated–stupid me, I had not been drinking much water, especially not that day). After some fluids, and more observation, the baby’s heart rate began to normalize, and they felt comfortable starting me on some pitocin in order to get contractions going. Normally they would not have given pitocin, but considering that it had already been several hours since my water have broken, and because I was not having much contractions on my own, they decided to augment my labor a bit.

I had come in around 1.5 cm. What a looonnnggg day this was going to be (or at least I thought). It took a couple hours and I was able to get to around 3 cm. The contractions were getting pretty intense. I have to admit that they were a bit more intense with the pitocin. With my previous pregnancies, I admitted to the hospital about 4 cm dilated, and the contractions were still pretty manageable. But these contractions seemed a bit stronger.

So I caved. Yes…..I got an epidural! I had already proven to myself and others that I could do natural delivery with Kwabena and Ohene. But for some reason, this time, I just didn’t WANT to. I didn’t feel like going through all the hard work and focus; I really just wanted my baby. So I didn’t hesitate to get the epidural, even though Kwasi insisted I was “punking out.” Whatever you want to call it, it felt like the right decision for me in this case.

Getting the epidural wasn’t as “scary” as I thought it was going to be. It was a pretty painless procedure, and I was pleasantly surprised how it removed all of the pain, leaving only the necessary pressure I would need to know come time to push. It was AWESOME! I would seriously get the epidural again in the event I were to have another baby. (HAHA, Kwasi would tell you, 100%, NO MORE. Me, I guess……You can never say never, though, right?).

Anyhow, I had gotten the epidural at around 6-7 cm. Soon after, while just me and Kwasi in the room, a contraction came and–yep–that undeniable pressure in the anus that tells you, “Holy shit, there’s a baby coming!!” I told Kwasi to run and get the nurse quickly (although he hesitated and couldn’t understand why I was just didn’t push the nurses call button, grrrrr……), because I knew this boy was coming QUICK! My doctor, Dr. Abraham-Hebert, wasn’t even there yet. The staff and the house OB were trying to wait around for her, and I couldn’t understand why the hell they were waiting on HER when this baby was about to come! So, thankfully, they got everything set up, and we were ready to push, OB or no OB.

I gave about 3 big pushes, and out he came! Kojo Mensah Appiah! Born November 16, 2011…..at 7:24 p.m…….7 lbs, 5 oz…..20″ long.

(And, LOL, I couldn’t believe he actually came on the same date as Andrea’s son!)

The crazy thing is that my boy not only the cord wrapped around his neck once, but he also had something called a “true knot” which is when there is a knot in the cord. I have NO idea when this had happened. But this apparently is the reason for the crazy heart rates, and why he wasn’t tolerating contractions at certain times. And from my research when I returned home, true knots are VERY rare (only occurring in about 1.75% of pregnancies or deliveries–or something like that– and that they can cause fetal demise). SCARY!!! My baby might not have made it because of this true knot 🙁

But thank God, Kojo was okay! Kwasi cut the cord, and they placed him on my belly. He was so cute! (well, as cute as a newly born baby can be!). He looked so different from Kwabena and Ohene, too. He had his own look to him. And he was so pale, with a head-full of black hair 🙂

He cried for all of 1 min, but then, to my surprise, he was so quiet! He laid there getting his APGAR assessment, and getting weighed and stuff, and he wasn’t making a peep! Everything was okay with him, but he just was a quiet little guy! No crying and screaming! Seemed to gel with his quiet demeanor in the womb, too.

Anyhow, I nursed him; he latched on pretty easily. And soon they had to take him to get cleaned up. We changed rooms (to Rm. #330). And when they brought him to us, all cleaned up and fresh, his had the cutest, feathery black hair! So soft!!

Kwasi stayed that night, and of course, he didn’t sleep much, nor did I. How can you sleep when you just witnessed a miracle, and have adrenaline pumping through you?? Impossible.

Kwasi left the next morning about 4:30 a.m. so that he could get the kids from Kwasi’s mom’s house, get them ready for school and daycare, and go home the next day to WORK. Yes, WORK. He totally should have taken off, but somehow……. Whatever. He also wanted to be around for when the kids were ready to be picked up from the bus stop and daycare. So Kojo and I were in the hospital all day by ourselves on Thursday, just getting some much needed quality time.

I was upset to find out, however, that that day, on Thursday, the nurses made a big error and gave Kojo the Hep B vaccination twice–once the day before after delivery, and again, that day while he was in the nursery doing his physical. I couldn’t believe they had made that error! Come to find out, the nursing instructor woman had not checked the medication nor his bracelett to make sure that they were administering the right medication to the right patient. UGH…..The good news is that something like this isn’t life threatening, and serious outcomes weren’t expected. Thankfully, that was the case; he didn’t have any reactions.

On Thursday evening, Kwasi brought the kids and his mom, to see us. Ohene was so cute, saying “Baby!” At first, he was still saying the baby was in my belly, but I think at this point, he understands 🙂 Kwabena didn’t seem that excited, however, the way he kept wanting to hug the baby, and hold him and take a picture with him before leaving (he said, “Mommy, can you take a picture and send it to Miss Marilyn?”), I knew he was happy about the baby.

It was sad to see them go. It felt lonely without them there. I really had wanted to leave on Thursday, but because of the medication error, they wanted to observe him a little long. Plus, he had not peed but maybe once up to that point, and they wanted to get more urine out of him.

Even though we were lonely there along, Kojo and I survived 🙂 He wasn’t sleeping much in his bassinet, so I had to tuck him into the crook of my arm to get some rest. There was NO WAY I was sending him to the nursery so I could take a nap after that Hep B fiasco. I wasn’t trusting these people with my baby at ALL.

Friday was circumcision day. Dr. Nardone, one of the OBs at my practice, did it, and it turned out nicely. He didn’t seem to be in any pain. We were able to check out that afternoon after lunch. Woo hoo! Nothing like going home after spending some time there! I did miss the room service, though 🙂 Nothing like someone bringing food to you!!!!

When we got home, we had some time there before it was time for Kwasi to pick Kwabena up from the bus stop. He left me and Kojo home while he went to Target to pick up some things we needed. When he picked Kwabena up from the bus stop, we surprised him with our arrival, because he didn’t know we were going to be there. He loved hugging the baby 🙂

Later, Kwasi went to pick up Ohene from daycare. And when Ohene came home, he acknowledged the baby once, and then kept it movin’. LOL

The first night went okay! Again, I had to tuck him up under my arm to get him to sleep longer stretches. In the pack n’ play, he would start to wimper after nearly as soon as I would lie him down, no matter how much of a deep sleep he was in! It’s like he knew that Mommy wasn’t right next to him.

So now we’re on Day #4 of life…..home for 2 of those days. And everything is going well! Yesterday we had to take Kojo to his post-discharge check-up, and everything checked out. The funniest thing was when we packed ourselves in our 4-door Honda Accord. OH.MY.GOD…..HILARIOUS!!!! We were packed like sardines! I had my purse shoved in the front area, along with a diaper bag….and the kids were one on top of each other (and you can only put one kid in a a time, LOL). And Kwasi was all the way pushed to the front, because the baby’s seat is behind the driver’s side, and the seat cannot be pressed against the other seat. CRAZY!!!

Anyhow….getting another car, such as a minivan, is another story….for another day.

At the doctor’s office, Kojo checked out nicely. He was 7 lbs 5 oz at birth, and at discharge he was 7 lbs 1 oz. At the dr. office he was 6 lbs 15 oz. A little guy!!!! Awwww…… Oh, and he had a HUGE poop all over his diaper and clothes! Amazing how you look forward to poops like that, considering that hadn’t pooped much since he was born, nor had he peed much.

Managing 2 older kids and a newborn was a little hectic at the appointment. Ohene had turned into the problem child, and even went as far as walking over and HITTING the doctor! For no reason at all!!! UGH…..sibling jealousy……

So there you have it! The birth story! We are sooo blessed to have him in our lives. He’s the cutest little thing. OMG, so sweet!!! And seeing him next to Ohene makes Ohene seem so BIG! I remember that happening with Kwabena when Ohene was born. Puts it all into perspective how much a child grows and changes. 🙂

I have more updates, but it’s already past 10….my boobs are ENGORGED….and a certain little boy needs to wake up and provide RELIEF to his Mommy 🙂

More later!!