Navy's Birth Story

This birth story is a little different than a typical one. Because we knew our sweet baby had health concerns (CDH), we were slated to deliver at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via induction on Monday, January 28, 2019. I would have been 39 weeks and 1 day. Dexter arrived at 38 weeks 4 days so I was a little anxious about the possibility of baby 2 coming early as well. However, our team was prepared whenever baby decided to come. We had relocated to Philadelphia at 35 weeks so that I was close to the hospital for delivery.

Our sweet girl - Navy Laurel Cozad

At my 38 week appointment, I was 3cm dilated but no other labor signs were in sight (Thursday 1/24). On Friday 1/25 I woke up feeling pretty crappy. I felt like I was starting to have some contractions, however because my water broke first with Dexter I wasn't really positive what contractions felt like without some type of assistance/medication. I also had Braxton Hicks since around 20 weeks. We decided to lay low and hang around the house for the day. Dustin was also traveling for a big meeting that day so we were trying to make sure I wasn't at the hospital before he got back!

Saturday morning (1/26) I woke up to some contractions I could actually time. They were relatively intense but not consistently spaced. We had made plans to go to this really delicious breakfast place (Ardmore Station Cafe) for stuffed French Toast for breakfast and I refused to miss that! Against my wishes (but for Mom/Dustin's) I called into the delivery unit. They said they wanted me to come in and check just to be safe. We had our bags pretty much packed just in case. Saying goodbye to Dexter was one of the hardest and most emotional events. He started crying and saying "Love You Mama". I was absolutely sobbing. The thought of our last few moments as my first and only baby were equally devastating and exciting knowing that he would be gaining a sibling. Those feelings were something I have been dreading most of the pregnancy, but in the end I know that giving him a sibling is truly one of the best gifts I am able to provide for him in life.

Our "hotel room" ready for check-in!

The SDU pass through window where Navy would be passed through for stabilization 

We headed down to the hospital where they checked me. I was between 5-6 cm! Everyone was super surprised! Because I had a slightly higher fluid level (common in CDH babies) we were hoping my water would not break at home (because it would have been a big mess!). Luckily it still hadn't broken, but the midwife said it was pretty darn close. We were admitted around 10:15am - without my french toast :( They started by administering my antibiotic and fluids for Strep-B. At 3pm they started the Pitocin and my contractions really started to pick up. We did some walking up and down the hallway to pass the time. At 3:45 they came back to check me and I was 6-7cm, they broke my water, and contractions were getting realllly strong. Around 5pm I was ready for my epidural. The first go didn't work, so I had to get a second one put in. It wasn't exactly awful, but I also wouldn't recommend it either. By that point I was 8+ cm. A little after 7pm I was fully dilated and ready to push. This was the part I was dreading - because I pushed for 7 hours with Dexter and had such a bad tear. The midwife and team had assured me they would do everything they could to prevent anything like that happening again.

We had Navy's name picked out for a long while, but still couldn't settle on a boy's name. We had narrowed it down to a short list of 3 names - but once we started pushing we still hadn't fully settled. So I was really hoping she was a girl so we wouldn't have to debate after they arrived! I started pushing and WHEW this was a completely different feeling then Dexter. The midwife, nurse, and OB were coaching me and cheering along the entire time. Dustin was a true rock - getting me everything I needed and cheering me on. This experience was truly the polar opposite of what I had experienced the first time. I felt the 'ring of fire' pretty strongly. The midwife was working hard to massage and make sure I wouldn't suffer as badly as I had the first time. The room was SO hot and finally right before she was born someone realized they had accidently turned on the warming bed behind me - no wonder I was such a mess! Again, I was somehow able to avoid puking - my worst fear. But because this was my second go around, I was a little more confident in my abilities.

After 58 minutes of pushing at 8:39pm on January 26, 2019, Navy Laurel Cozad entered the world! The midwife proudly held her up and announced she was a girl. I started sobbing. Dustin quickly cut her cord and they rushed her over to the window to be placed in the stabilization room. It was really tough only being able to briefly touch her and not be able to hold her- but we knew that getting her onto a ventilator and stabilized was way more important than getting to spend some time snuggling.

The NICU team working to stabilize her

Getting to see what was going on through the window

Dad gets to see Navy in stabilization room

Watching the team work on our sweet girl

The NICU team was ready to roll! They took Navy and worked to get her stabilized (heart & lungs were main focus areas of concern). After I was cleaned up, they wheeled my bed over to the window so I could see what was happening. The team was super great about letting us know what was going on and what all they were doing. We stood by the window and watched them work on her. Dustin was eventually able to go into the stabilization room and see her. He was able to snap some pictures of her dark hair!! After an hour or so she was stable enough to be taken down a few floors to the NICU. I was moved into a recovery room and finally got to have some food. No french toast, but chicken fingers! I had some really bad shakes after this delivery. That took me a little while to recover from.

Navy Laurel Cozad in stabilization room

Just some of her "gear" to help her remain stable.

A few hours later I was wheeled down to meet my sweet baby girl. She was so peaceful. They had her on a few medications - one of which was a paralytic to keep her comfortable and not in pain. So for the first three days of her life she didn't open her eyes or do much, but she was comfortable and that was most important. Because of all of the equipment Navy is on, we are not able to hold her or pick her up. We can hold her hand, rub her head, kiss her forehead, and touch her legs/toes. I am also pumping breast milk for her which was swab into her mouth after each pump. She is pretty sensitive to overstimulation (very typical of CDH babies) so we try not to bother her too much. As a parent, this is very difficult to not be able to snuggle you own baby. After her repair when she is moved onto a traditional ventilator we should be able to hold her - and BOY are we looking forward to that day.

Finally getting to meet my sweet baby girl <3

Giving Navy some of the pumped colostrum. 

Dad's turn to give Navy some oral care

We truly think that Navy was given to us for a reason. And although these last few weeks have been some of the toughest I have ever experienced, she gives me the strength to continue. We have seen her dark blue eyes, felt her squeeze our hands, and watch her get feisty when she is unhappy. We have faith that she is going to have a beautiful life, even though she had a rough start. We are thankful for her team in both the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) and NICU here at CHOP for their care for all of us during this time. We are so very grateful that Navy Laurel chose us as her forever family and cannot wait to see how bright her future is going to be <3 <3

Navy's room set up in the NICU.