Mason’s Birth Story

After waiting for so long to meet our sweet son, he’s here! I can’t believe I had another baby that went overdue, but this little boy came at the perfect time! I want to back up and start the story at 39 weeks! Sophia came home from school on a Thursday and said she wasn’t feeling well, with a fever I took her to the pediatrician the following morning and everything came back negative except the results of her COVID PCR test. After a day or so and an email from the school with a two other positive cases in her class, we were told we were one of the unlucky ones. So here I am, 39 weeks pregnant and a toddler positive with COVID and now under a 10 day quarantine. By Sunday, both Gary and I had symptoms and even though rapid tests came back negative, PCR tests were positive, so quarantine continued to be extended. 

All I kept praying for was a longer pregnancy so that Gary could be in the delivery room with me! Obviously they would have to treat me no matter what clearly baby needed to come out, but a support person wasn’t the same. I have never been more grateful for the vaccine in my life and cannot imagine what would have happened to me with complications had I not gotten it while pregnant! I tried to steer clear of the news and any stories relating to pregnancy and COVID and for the first time in my pregnancy my blood pressure was high. Not a vaccine post at all, but for me there was never a hesitation! 

Anyway, like clockwork on my day of freedom, baby boy also knew it was time! I had an ultrasound appointment to check his measurements and make sure he was still doing well and my blood pressure for the first time in the entire pregnancy was high, so they wanted to run extra tests. I would think with all the stress and anxiety from the previous 12 days it was bound to be high 😆 Not only that, but we scheduled my induction for Friday, October 1! Jokes on me!

I got home from the doctor around 3:30 in the afternoon and started to feel like my water was breaking! With Sophia there was no doubt my water broke because it was the middle of the night and I just knew, but this was different. For the next 3 hours I was a mess because I wasn’t ready yet as crazy as that sounds. I wanted to put Sophia to sleep so that’s what I did! I cried singing to her that night because I knew our world was changing, for the better, but changing nonetheless. She wasn’t going to be an only child anymore, she’d always be my baby, but it just felt like a monumental moment for me as a mom. I told her mommy and daddy were going to pick up little brother and we’d be home soon and she said she was going to be a brave girl! Cue all the tears.

After she went down I called the doctor and with my water definitely being broken at that point and a few contractions, they told me to come in. My mom came over around 8:30 pm and we were at the hospital by 9:15. The other change was that at the last minute I changed my delivering hospital because of COVID protocols for the support person as well, which turned out to be a blessing. It had now been about 6 hours since my water broke and my contractions were every 10 minutes. They say your second can move pretty quickly and they don’t lie. Once I was admitted I asked that they check me and I was already 4cm dilated so I asked for an epidural. The contractions were right on top of one another and the anesthesiologist couldn’t come fast enough. At 11:45 pm he finally came in to get everything started and I just knew that I was progressing too fast. The epidural was put in, but at 12:30 I still wasn’t getting much relief, similar to Sophia’s birth it was only working on one side. Wouldn’t matter anyway since I told the nurse I needed to push! She checked and told me that if I could wait to push at least 10 more minutes then the epidural might kick in. 

For anyone keeping score, that means I labored all the way to 10cm dilated on my own 🤯 never my intention and 10/10 would not recommend lol! She just didn’t want me to push without some relief. At 12:53 I couldn’t wait any longer and said I needed to push and at 1:26 AM our sweet baby boy was born! 

Mason Phillip Perez came roaring into this world and was immediately put on my chest and just like that my heart doubled in size and immediately loved two little humans more than anything in the entire world! 

Our hospital stay was much different and we weren’t allowed to leave our room even though our quarantine was over. It turned out to work in our favor because apparently there is a baby boom and women were doubled up in rooms – No thank you!!! 

After our first night, Mason passed all his tests as did I, so we were given the green light to go home! It felt quick, but we were ready to be home, see Sophia and start life as a family of 4! 

Sophia is the proudest big sister ever!! But as with anything new, she’s excited for about 2 minutes and then she could care less!

It’s really hard to believe the journey to Mason being here is complete, but I am so happy that he’s here with us and our family truly feels complete! I know not everyone is a fan of birth stories, but this is so that I never forget- which will be hard to do with so much drama and fanfare before his arrival! Thank you so much for all the well wishes and congratulations- it means the world!! 

24 Comments

  1. October 6, 2021 / 6:26 am

    Wow, you went through a lot before having him! So glad everything turned out well and he’s here safe and sound. Congrats, he’s absolutely adorable!

  2. Shay
    October 6, 2021 / 8:30 am

    Congrats! So glad to hear you all are well!

  3. October 6, 2021 / 8:52 am

    Oh my goodness, Biana, I had no idea that y’all all had Covid leading up to his birth. I can’t even imagine the anxiety that must have caused. Goodness. I’m so glad you did get the vaccine! My midwife told me so many sad stories about pregnant women who got Covid and weren’t vaccinated. It’s so devastating (and strange) how Covid has been so severe in pregnant women. I’m so glad your sweet little man is here and safe and healthy. And the best part is, he should have your antibodies!!!! He is just perfect and I’m so excited to watch him grow. <3

  4. Andrea Nine
    October 6, 2021 / 9:39 am

    I love that you shared your and Mason’s story with us! Welcome to the world beautiful boy! Continued prayers this first few weeks as a complete family! You’re all just precious!

  5. October 6, 2021 / 10:00 am

    The sweetest pictures and baby boy!! So happy for all of y’all!

  6. October 6, 2021 / 10:44 am

    I am so glad you were all out of quarantine before he decided to come! COVID really sucks. Terrible Sophia had! So glad Mason made a healthy appearance into the world. Congratulations to all 3 of you!

  7. Kristin
    October 6, 2021 / 12:41 pm

    Oh goodness mama. Reading about how you put Sophia to bed that “one last time” INSTANTLY had me in tears.

    I can remember every second of that moment with Claire while I was in labor with Henry. I had been having contractions every 10-12 minutes since around 3am. By the time Claire nap came around (she was only 17 months old) I knew that Henry would be there before bedtime. I had my mom get Claire all ready for nap and timed my contractions so that the second one ended I scooped her up, sat down to rock her and LOST ALL CONTROL of my emotions. I just sobbed and hugged her and told her how sorry I was for making these changes when she could understand why and promised her over and over that if she just gave it a chance that she’d love having a little brother. Ugh. I legit a lump in my throat and tear up even now just thinking about it. It’s such a special moment and a true rite of passage as you move from 1 to 2.

    I remember I mom friend telling me make sure that I set aside a time wrote Henry’s birth to get that last “baby” snuggle in from your first born and emotionally let go” so that your subconscious didn’t interfere with labor. So that both your mind and body were both ready. And wouldn’t you know it that after almost 12 hours of contractions being 10-12 minutes apart, after putting her down my next one was only 9 minutes later, and the next one was 8 minutes later, and the next one was 7 minutes later, and so on and so on. And sure enough, an hour later, before Claire even woke up from her nap, Henry had arrived.

    It truly is magical how you love just instantly doubles.

    Congrats mama!!!

    • blovedboston23
      Author
      October 6, 2021 / 12:55 pm

      Oh my gosh Kristin, even reading your recount your experience brought me to tears! There is so much guilt associated with everything that we do, we just pray they understand one day everything we do, we do for them!

  8. October 7, 2021 / 5:29 am

    Congratulations Bianca and welcome to the world baby boy. I am so glad everything worked out even though it started off pretty rocky. And how sweet is that picture of Sophia holding Mason. Melting over here…send help!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

    • October 7, 2021 / 5:31 am

      Sorry Biana. I didn’t realize the spell checker spelled your named incorrectly! Doh!

      Maureen

  9. October 7, 2021 / 7:49 am

    Wow, I can definitely understand your blood pressure rising right at the end there! That would have been so stressful. That is great you guys got to go home early and have that extra time to bond as a family at home. He is so precious and it looks like Sophia is a great big sister!

  10. October 7, 2021 / 8:13 am

    Look at you go momma!!!! I get so teary eyed at these stories.
    So glad you had the vaccine to help you through the worst timing of COVID ever!!!! You all have those covid antibodies now which is great having that baby in the house.
    Doubling up in rooms??? GASP – no thank you. Glad you got to avoid that.
    & so glad everything went as smoothly as possible.
    Mason is just beautiful… & Sophia instantly looks 5 years older next to him.
    Excited to see you start your journey to a family of 4 now.

  11. Rachel Frieder
    October 7, 2021 / 10:56 am

    Mason is already the most well-behaved baby!! Great job staying cozy JUST long enough, sweet boy!!! XOXO, R

  12. October 7, 2021 / 3:00 pm

    Oh wow – what crazy timing! I’m glad it all worked out (for the best) <3

  13. October 7, 2021 / 6:54 pm

    I can’t believe you already wrote this! Way to go. I personally love birth stories, so I loved this post. I love his name. Congrats on your beautiful family!!!

  14. October 8, 2021 / 1:37 am

    Congratulations! I’m glad everything turned out well in the end and you and Mason are home safe. Mason is so adorable and Sophia looks like happy big sister!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    http://www.mynameislovely.com

  15. October 8, 2021 / 8:21 am

    What a story. I’m so sorry you all went through that leading up to his birth. All of my kids have always come late, but I know the waiting can be really hard. That’s amazing baby boy knew to wait. Ironically, all of my boys came on their own, on the days I was supposed to be induced. They still keep me in suspense and on my toes 😉 Mason is so precious! Enjoy all those sweet baby snuggles!

  16. October 8, 2021 / 7:00 pm

    I love birth stories so much so thank you for sharing! What an experience and thank goodness he timed everything perfectly – the smartest little guy already!!!

  17. October 9, 2021 / 3:04 pm

    Congratulations! Loved reading Mason’s birth story! He is precious! And Sophia looks so proud to be a big sister!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

  18. Gentry
    October 10, 2021 / 9:50 pm

    So. Dry happy for you friend! Mason is perfect, and what an unforgettable birth story ❤️ Sending you all lots of love and baby snuggles!

    • Gentry
      October 10, 2021 / 9:51 pm

      So happy *

  19. October 16, 2021 / 9:59 am

    Oh my goodness. What an adventure. I can’t imagine how stressed you must have been going into the end of your pregnancy with the positive tests! So glad you were vaccinated and safe… and that your husband could be there, too. I imagine that would have been so hard if he wasn’t able to be there!! <3 Mason is so very sweet and Sophia is definitely the most excited big sister! All of these photos are precious!!

  20. October 18, 2021 / 6:38 pm

    Congratulations. Welcome to the world Mason.