The Yanes Family Blog

On Friday, January 29th we welcomed our little bundle of joy, Xavier Che Yanes, weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz and 19 inches long. It was definitely an experience, with a few bumps along the way, but we are thrilled to have this new addition to our family. Let me share what happened...

I went into labor Thursday (the 28th) afternoon about 3:00. Anthony and I headed to the hospital at 9:00 when my contractions were 5 minutes apart for at least an hour, and were very painful!

{arriving at the hospital}

I was admitted, and after being checked by the nurse, I was already 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. No wonder it hurt!

I hadn't decided on pain medication yet, and at that point felt I could handle the contractions, so the nurse proceeded to finish all the admission requirements. By about 11:00 pm the contractions were incredibly painful and close together, and not knowing how far along I was I decided I was going to need an epidural. The nurse called anesthesia, who was with another patient, so when he got there at 11:30ish I was feeling like I needed to push. The nurse checked me and I was 9 cms! With little time to spare, I opted for intrathecal pain meds which were faster than placing an epidural but shorter lasting. Just after the anesthesiologist gave me the medication, I was lying down on my side and felt my water break. The nurse checked me and I was 10 cm, but she had a strange look on her face.

SURPRISE!

Baby was butt first, and there was meconium present in the amniotic fluid. The doctor came in and checked me also, said "yep, that's his butt", and immediately I was swarmed by tons of staff as they rushed to get me to the OR for an emergency c-section.

Since I didn't have the epidural I got a spinal block, and at 12:15 am on January 29th, baby Xavier entered the bright world of the OR!

His coloring looked good, but he was having a little difficulty breathing and his heart rate was high, so he was taken to the nursery and placed on oxygen. A chest x-ray and labs were done, and the little guy had a pneumothorax, or air around his lung, as well as a high white blood cell count (possibility of an infection), so the decision was made to transfer him to the NICU at UC Davis. At 4:30 am after labor and a c-section, I was obviously exhausted and emotional about them taking him away, but at least I got to hold him for a few minutes before he left.

Xavier was in the NICU for 4 days, they were able to get him off oxygen the second day he was there, and the next couple days were mainly just observation, antibiotics, making sure he didn't have an infection, and watching his bilirubin levels.

{Leiakkoni & Anthony in the NICU}

{the sign put above his crib}

{Dad and Xavier}

I was doing well at the hospital in Folsom and eager to go see my little guy, so they discharged me Saturday evening and Anthony took me to the NICU at UCDMC.