Lucas with Lagdameo's

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Lucas' Newborn Album

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Shutterfly Pregnancy Journal

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Lucas' First Month

Welcome baby Lucas!

More photos of Lucas Vincent Maurizio!!!(and birth story) We welcomed a beautiful baby boy to the world on Nov 5 around 4 PM, 6 lbs 10 oz. We're still contemplating the name but it will probably be Lucas Maurizio! We went to Duke University Hospital around 2 AM and were shocked to discover I was already dilated 7 cm, so we thought we would welcome our baby sometime in the morning. My contractions stalled at 8 cm and I decided to finally take meds around 7 AM. Paul and I got some well-deserved rest (Paul was a terrific support person and husband) and by noon we thought I would only have to push for a couple of hours and baby would be out! For whatever reason, baby would not come out after 4 hours of pushing (I thought maybe it was his big head). Once our doctor offered to vacuum him out after 4 hours, I accepted immediately and within 10 minutes or less baby was born!!! It was good we got him out quickly; his heart rate was increasing and when he was pulled out the cord was around his neck. Our doctor was awesome and cut the cord quickly. Paul was emotional. I was exhausted. Imagine pushing someone out while someone else pulling with a plumber/vacuum-like instrument!!! Truly an unforgettable experience for us all. Baby Maurizio is healthy, eating well, pooping, and sleeping well. Paul is doing wonderfully as a new parent and we're so blessed that our baby is finally here and doing well!

Baby Shower with ICS

I started working as a staff assistant at the International Comparative Studies program at Duke in October 2012. Our faculty and staff hosted a terrific baby shower with a monkey and zoo theme! So grateful for their generosity and friendship.

Baby is doing well!

Today I had another check-up and the baby's heart rate was 140 and my weight gain is on track! Only a few more weeks until we meet our little one! Over the weekend, I was feeling pretty anxious and 'cried' to Paul to that I was overwhelmed. The next day, I picked up my 'Natural Hospital Birth' book and read that crying was totally normal a few weeks before the due date AND during labor. Paul said it was fine just as long as I didn't cry for the whole 12 or more hours of labor. The author suggests that crying is sometimes more helpful in accelerating labor than any type of medicine. If this is the case, I'm all for it!!!