GREENFIELD — Abbi Pratt says her newborn son, Oskar, was determined to come into the world early on New Year’s morning, making him the first baby to be born at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in 2021.
Oskar D. Rockwell Pratt weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces just after his birth at 6:40 a.m. His 6-year-old sister, Willow, waits for him at home in Leyden because the hospital is not allowing any visitors to the maternity ward as a health safety precaution amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She saw a picture of him this morning and we plan to FaceTime with her tonight,” Abbi said on Friday afternoon. “We’ll be going home tomorrow.”
Willow is staying with family until the Pratts return with her new baby brother.
Abbi said she started having contractions during the day on New Year’s Eve, and by 6 or 7 p.m., she and her husband, Brannon, knew Oskar was on his way, so they headed to Baystate Franklin in Greenfield at around 9 p.m. They were escorted straight to their room and Abbi delivered him there 9½ hours later.
“Oskar is loud,” his mother said. “He has quite the lungs on him. But once he settled this morning, he’s been sleeping a lot. We’re taking turns with him and sleeping.”
His parents said it’s still too early to tell what kind of personality Oskar has.
“He likes to lie on us,” she said, “and he doesn’t like his feet touched.”
“That’s all we know of the little being who has been with us for about 9 hours,” Brannon said Friday afternoon.
Abbi and Brannon are extremely happy with their son.
“We started out wanting to have a girl or boy, we didn’t care, but we’re very happy to be getting to know this particular little boy,” she said.
Abbi said Oskar is “snuggly and comfortable” with his parents, but not very happy with the doctors and nurse poking and prodding. She said the experience they had with this pregnancy and delivery was very different from her last one more than six years ago.
“Honestly though, it’s been kind of peaceful this time around,” Abbi said. “It’s been kind of nice to just be able to rest and be in the moment with him.”
She said the staff at the hospital and Pioneer Women’s Health were supportive throughout the pregnancy and delivery.
“We felt incredibly supported,” she said. “I really feel like people went above and beyond. We’re getting the best care. It must be difficult because restrictions have been changing daily and everyone has had to keep up with them. We’re so appreciative.”
Abbi said Oskar was delivered by a midwife. While the pregnancy and delivery weren’t difficult — Willow was delivered by C-section, whereas Oskar was a natural birth — the couple had to make plans with those who will be helping them when they get home.
“We had to make sure we were all on the same page, all staying safe, so that we can be together when we get home,” she said. “I have to say that postpartum kind of intimidates me because there won’t be as many people to help as there were last time because of COVID.”
Abbi said Willow will return to school on Monday fully remote for at least the next three weeks, so they will all be home together full-time getting to know each other.
“I’m sure she’s going to want to show her baby brother off to all of her teachers and classmates,” Abbi laughed. “She’s definitely excited. But when he starts taking attention away from her, well, we’ll have to see how that goes.”
The couple’s advice to others who will be having babies during the pandemic? “Stay open-minded,” she said. “Go with the flow. Find the people you want to work with and who you trust. We’re so happy with the teams here.”
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.