Real Bath I

We aim to make this an annual event, like the Superbowl.

Welcome Raleigh Hazel Cooper Neustadt!

From January 26, 2011...

Now that we've caught our breath a bit... our birth story! Raleigh Hazel joined us a week and a half before her due date, during a big snow storm (girl has a flair for the dramatic already!).

Tuesday night, shortly after watching the State of the Union, I noticed that I was leaking slightly more fluid than normal, but this has happened occasionally before and stopped within a few hours. However, by morning it was still slightly heavier (certainly not what I expected for water breaking). The doctor's office suggested coming in as soon as possible rather than for my afternoon appointment.

Our doctor went through a checklist of symptoms consistent with water breaking. I had experienced none of them. Just to be cautious, she took a sample of fluid to examine under the microscope. Low and behold - my water had broken, albeit very slowly. A sonogram indicated that my amniotic fluid levels were still high and the baby was fine (and measuring quite a bit larger than she was two weeks ago - 57th percentile rather than 25th). And then, were sent straight to the hospital. Do not pass go, do not back to Brooklyn to get luggage (but do stop to get some lunch - eggplant stromboli from Ben's pizza to help launch us into labor!)

Labor was induced with Cytotec. After half an hour, we had regular, albeit weak contractions. Our nurse sent us on a 'walk' - circles around the maternity ward - for an hour. Started experiencing slightly more intense contractions (period cramp level) and more water loss. We were examined again and dilated to 2-3 centimeters (not much more than where we started). The doctor came in, she manually broke my water a bit more, and we were sent to 'walk' again. This time, I started experiencing more intense contractions, and definitely felt the water 'gush'. By the end of our hour of walking, I was definitely in labor - no second dose of cytotec needed, and no Pitocen!

And - Aunt Laurie trekked through the storm to bring us some love - along with much needed and appreciated snacks and trashy magazines - and the Hershey Bars that powered much of our delivery! Bimmie arrived too - before the trains from DC were all shut down, and Bubby and Zayde started packing for their trek from Ohio!

We ended up being able to deliver without an epidural and without further intervention. I pushed for 17 minutes, and at 11:41, about 7 hours after entering the hospital, our daughter was born! Six pounds, seven ounces and completely adorable!

Both the doctor and NYU were terrific. Meanwhile, a dear friend of ours went to our apartment to finish packing up our bags. Dan was able to stay in the recovery room the entire time.


Shortly after she was born, we tried out all the top choices from our list, and baby responded immediately to Raleigh. It had nothing to do with her father's constant coaching while she was in the womb.



Papa and Aunt Jill came up to visit the day Raleigh came home, and Aunt Julie, Uncle Mick and Aunt Lynn and Uncle Stephen will meet her very soon!

A week after her birth, Raleigh had more than regained her birth weight (score 1 for a vegetarian nursing diet!) and she even lets us sleep a bit! Two weeks later, and she's nearly growing before our eyes!