The Moses Birth Story

An induction had been scheduled for 7 A.M. Saturday August 2nd, but early the day before (Friday), spontaneous labor started. The membranes had ruptured (water had broken), so we headed to the birth center only 9 minutes away, and were subsequently assigned a labor and delivery room by 7:30 A.M. that morning. Twelve hours later, our son Moses would be born. He was 9 days overdue, weighed 7lbs 14oz (3.5kg), and measured 20.5in (52cm) long.

Labor and delivery proceeded as best as we could have hoped for, without any pain medication. While the hospital requires a hydration IV, mom also needed antibiotics for Group B Strep (GBS), which she had tested positive for previously. There was talk about hooking up Pitocin (Oxytocin) when labor had seemed slow earlier, but it was never done because labor picked up and was progressing nicely on its own when a decision needed to be made. An epidural wasn't even discussed although we had asked to be notified at the last opportunity when it could be administered. Otherwise, the positions and breathing techniques we learned in baby classes were all that came handy, with the support of my sister Leanna and our friend Lydia. We couldn't have done it without them.

Because of the Group B Strep, the hospital requires a 48-hour stay for observation. We ended up staying 3 nights total because Moses showed a couple of concerns:

(1) respiratory insufficiency, for which he was put on oxygen. The nurses thought he was breathing faster than normal and did an oxygen saturation test from which they found out he was in the 70's range (normal is 90% or higher). The doctors blame the altitude and thin air here, and say it is almost always expected to give oxygen for summer babies born in Colorado, even for a few days.

(2) nutritional support, for which he received banked breast milk and a glucose IV when blood sugar levels did not improve. He was consistently borderline in the 30-40 mg/dL range (normal being 46 mg/dL+). We would need to supplement for a few days until mom started flowing. We didn't know that for a lot of women, milk production doesn't start 3-7 days after they give birth. For women that have had PCOS, it can take even longer to start flowing. Moses' blood sugar tests were getting worse because he wasn't getting anything from his feedings.

Because of these concerns, Moses was transferred to the NICU for 24 hours (Saturday overnight). After a car seat tolerance test early Monday morning, we were discharged later that afternoon. A home care company came and setup an oxygen unit at home, and we've since settled into a routine around Moses' sleep, feedings, and diaper changes. At his first pediatrician visit yesterday, he weighed in at 8lbs (3.6kg) already, so he's doing very well. He's still quite an easy baby, only screaming bloody murder during diaper changes.

We have plenty of time to get used to these changes. Mom's maternity leave ends early October, while my paternal leave will be almost 3 weeks long (minus 2-3 days to help out with a data center move at work). We have also been blessed with friends and family bringing us food and checking on our well-being. We don't have to do groceries for another week. We are looking forward to welcoming those who will travel from far and wide to come welcome Moses. Our guest room is ready.

Here I introduce Moses Baluku Miremba. All Ugandan, all Italian, and all American. We are smitten and can't wait to see what future God has for Him. Our job was to bring him on this earth and set him on a course, and guide him on his life journey wherever that will lead.