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Baby Leo

It has been almost 2 weeks now since our newest family member, Leo Fernando Arevalo arrived into our lives. He was born on Friday, 23rd July at 7:17pm. It was a strange day actually because I was feeling cramps at 3am that morning, and F was called to cover a night shift at the last minute! I didn't want to stop him from going to work as I wasn't sure whether it was the real deal...I did sms him to get his ass back as soon as possible once he had finished his shift at 6am. The cramps were not regular, I would get them every half an hour and then it would change to every hour.

I had a check up with the OB at 12:30pm anyway, so when I went to see her she told me the baby was sitting in an awkward position..his spine was against my spine which explained the irregular contractions. She asked me to sit on a fit ball to try to reposition him. I went home and did a few yoga 'cat' poses which involves being on all fours and arching my back and curving it. Once I felt the baby move into position the contractions came on quicker and stronger. Funny...I never thought that positioning would speed up the labour!

So by 5pm we dropped Sofia off at my parents and rushed to the hospital. I stuck on my TENS machine and began hitting the 'boost' button. Yes, I was going au natural! A TENS machine is a device used in physiotherapy to stimulate the muscles with electrodes which helps numb a certain area. The feeling of a 'boost' from the TENS Machine is similar to that of 'pins and needles'. It is non-invasive so baby was not affected at all. According to some research TENS does not work for everyone, I definitely felt it made a difference. My pain threshold is fairly good, as I have avoided the use of panadol and other pain killers in the past. Even though the labor pains were crazy painful I could instruct my body to do what it needed to do especially when it came to PUSH. I would have to say I'm kinda proud of myself to do it without drugs...it was better than my first experience with the gas. F was an amazing support who helped rubbed my lower back the whole time.

Anyway more news on Leo, he weighed in at 2.98kg which is 6lb 9oz. Bigger than Sofia. He came out crying and within a few minutes locked eyes with me and we cuddled. There was a calm that followed and that moment I was in love with my baby. He is a cutie...gotta say, I'm a proud momma :)

Sofia was so smitten by Leo, she loves to smell him and kiss him every chance she gets. I am so glad she has someone to play with now. I was worried she would be jealous of the new comer but she was not jealous at all, she was more worried and concerned that he was too little and shouldn't be carried by everyone, only by mama and papa (me & F), more like an overprotective big sister. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital and take him home so he could settle into our family.

There have been sleepless nights, but it's all worth in the end for this lil man. I am prepared this time for a baby because I have done it all before, it is definitely less stressful...but then again credit to Leo for being such a good baby. :) We had a list of names for him but decided on Leo because it suited his lil face, and his baby cat-like cries, he is born in the year of the Tiger and plus it is his star sign. We now have 2 Leos in the family, Sofia and him...I wonder what they will be like when they grow up together. Oh man...another one added to the clan!