Having Our New York City Baby During COVID-19

IT’S A GIRL!

Siena Rae Siskar was born on Wednesday, April 8th in New York City! You can find all the cute baby photos here and here!

When Colleen got pregnant nine months ago, we had no idea the rollercoaster we would be in for. The week before Siena was born, hospitals were not even allowing birth partners into the building. Luckily, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order to reverse that decision, so no women would have to labor alone. We were both incredibly relieved to know we could be together for the birth of our first child.

As part of the new policy, New York City hospitals began testing all women entering labor and delivery for COVID-19 upon arrival. We arrived at the hospital around 6:00 am. Colleen was tested via a nasal swab and I had my temperature taken. While we waited for the results, she was admitted and the rest of the morning was fairly smooth for both of us.

Then around 1:00pm, Colleen’s COVID test unfortunately came back positive, even though she was asymptomatic. I asked if I could then be tested but due to a nation wide shortage of tests, the hospital is not testing any spouses. Instead per hospital policy, they just assume that because I'm living with their patient, it means I have been exposed. As a result, I was asked to leave the hospital at that time and Colleen would have to deliver on her own. Saying goodbye and leaving was not easy emotionally, to say the least. I left the hospital in lower manhattan and took a lonely walk back home to process what had just happened, over an eerily empty Brooklyn Bridge.

I called our parents to tell them the news. Then I was FaceTimed in for the rest of the day from home. Fortunately, the hospital did allow a replacement partner as part of the Governors Executive order. A person who had not been in contact with Colleen for 14 days. Luckily Colleen’s childhood friend Talitha stepped up in very last minute and was allowed to take my place. It meant the world to both of us that Colleen wouldn’t have to deliver alone!   

A few hours later I watched over a Zoom call from my laptop at home as Siena Rae was born just before midnight! We had kept the gender a surprise for the whole pregnancy and we were so excited to find out our baby was a girl!

Looking back on it, I think Colleen and I had very mild cases of COVID-19 in the middle of March. Around that time we both lost our sense of taste and smell and developed a dry cough out of nowhere. We also had a few other friends in New York City who had very mild symptoms as well. However, due to the lack of accessible testing, there was no way to know for sure at the time.

So while Colleen tested positive in the hospital the doctors are confident she was already over it, and that is why she was asymptomatic. Siena was tested for the next 2 weeks by her pediatrician and has stayed negative, which is a massive relief. Per doctors orders, we had been wearing masks at home for those first few weeks to ensure her protection.

So I missed being in person for the birth and it was an incredibly stressful day. But looking back in hindsight, I am just grateful that everyone is home and healthy now. I am confident we did what was right to protect Colleen, the baby, and the amazing hospital workers.

Looking forward there is a lot of research regarding mothers passing on antibodies to babies through breast milk. We might even join a Mt. Sinai research study to help further the research being done in this space. Our doctors hope is that Colleen will pass the antibodies to Siena and she will be protected. 🙏🏻

Presently, happy to report that everyone is healthy and we are so excited to be spending time together at home as a new family!

My wife Colleen has also published her side of the story here, which I obviously recommend reading.