Family welcomes baby, the last one born at Albert Lea’s Baby Place

 

When Albert Lean Lah May woke up the morning of Oct. 27, she was in a lot of pain.

With her son’s due date still almost a week away on Nov. 2, she tried to brush aside the idea that he might be born early.

She started having contractions about 10 minutes apart, but as they started happening more frequently, she said she knew the baby was coming soon.

With contractions coming about a minute apart, May and her husband, Aung Oo, left their house on Sheridan Street at about 10:30 a.m. to drive to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

The birth went well — but quickly — and at 11:03 a.m., their son, Sharlelmeung Oo, was born.

The 7 pound, 2 ounce baby was ultimately the last baby to be born in The Baby Place at the Albert Lea hospital, and the family was discharged from the hospital at about 3 p.m. the next day.

May said she was surprised when she found out she gave birth to the last baby to be born in The Baby Place. The family received a onesie for the baby and flowers, marking their significance in the history of Albert Lea.

May said little Sharlelmeung has been doing well since coming home from the hospital and noted that her husband had always wanted a boy.

The couple has lived in Albert Lea since 2014 and has another child, Isadora Oo, 4, who was also born at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

She said she is glad things went well for her birthing experience, but is nervous with the transition of labor and delivery services to Austin. She wonders if she had to travel to Austin, if her baby would have been born in the car.

“I’m lucky,” she said.