Chapter 123 Labor and Delivery
CAITLYN'S POV
A month later, I woke up at three in the morning with pain in my lower back. Sharp pain that made me gasp. I sat up carefully trying not to wake Jason. Maybe it was just the baby moving. Maybe it was nothing. I was already due for childbirth.
But then another pain came. Stronger this time. Starting in my back and wrapping around to my stomach. I knew what this was. I had read enough books. Taken enough classes. This was labor.
"Jason," I said shaking his shoulder. "Jason wake up."
He opened his eyes immediately. "What is wrong? Are you okay?"
"I think I am in labor," I said. "I am having contractions."
Jason sat up fast. "Are you sure? How far apart are they?"
"I do not know," I said. "I just woke up. But they hurt. Really hurt."
Another contraction came and I gripped Jason's hand. Squeezed hard. Breathed through it as they taught us in the birthing class.
"Okay," Jason said. He was trying to stay calm but I could hear the panic in his voice. "Okay, we need to time them. See how far apart they are."
He grabbed his phone and started timing. The next contraction came five minutes later. Then another one five minutes after that.
"They are five minutes apart," Jason said. "The doctor said to go to the hospital when they are five minutes apart. We need to go. Now."
"Okay," I said. "Let me get dressed."
I tried to stand up but another contraction hit and I had to sit back down. This one was stronger than the others. Lasted longer. I gripped the edge of the bed and tried to breathe.
"You okay?" Jason asked. He looked terrified.
"Yeah," I said. "Just give me a second."
When the contraction passed I got dressed. Jason helped me. His hands were shaking. He was more nervous than I was.
"Do we have everything?" I asked. "The hospital bag?"
"I packed it last week," Jason said. "It is by the door. Come on. Let me help you to the car."
We made it to the car and Jason drove to the hospital. He was driving fast. Too fast. I put my hand on his arm.
"Slow down," I said. "We have time. The baby is not coming right this second."
"Are you sure?" Jason asked. "What if the baby comes in the car?"
"The baby is not coming in the car," I said. "This is my first baby. Labor takes hours. We have time."
Another contraction hit and I stopped talking. Focused on breathing. On getting through it. Jason reached over and took my hand.
"You are doing great," he said. "Just breathe. We are almost there."
We got to the hospital and Jason pulled up to the emergency entrance. Ran inside and came back with a wheelchair. Helped me into it. Wheeled me inside.
The nurse at the desk took one look at me and called for someone. Another nurse came and took us to a room. Helped me into a hospital gown. Checked how dilated I was.
"You are at four centimeters," she said. "Still got a ways to go. But you are definitely in labor."
"How long?" I asked. "How long until the baby comes?"
"Hard to say," the nurse said. "Could be a few hours. Could be longer. Every labor is different. But I will let the doctor know you are here and she will come check on you soon."
The nurse left and it was just Jason. Another contraction came and I gripped the bed rail. Jason stood next to me holding my other hand.
"You are doing so well," he said. "So good Caitlyn. I am so proud of you."
"This hurts," I said. "This really really hurts."
"I know," Jason said. "Do you want the epidural? The nurse said you can get it anytime."
"Not yet," I said. "I want to wait a little longer. See if I can do this naturally."
"You sure?" Jason asked.
"I am sure," I said. "I want to try."
The next few hours were a blur of contractions and pain and breathing. Jason stayed by my side the whole time. Held my hand. Wiped my forehead with a cold cloth. Told me I was doing great. That I was strong. That he loved me.
Around six in the morning, the doctor came in. Dr. Martinez. The same doctor who had been seeing me through my whole pregnancy.
"How are we doing Caitlyn?" she asked.
"Hurting," I said. "A lot."
"Let me check you," Dr. Martinez said.
She checked and smiled. "You are at eight centimeters. Almost there. You are doing great."
"Eight centimeters?" I said. "How much longer?"
"Could be an hour. Could be two. But you are in the home stretch now."
Another contraction hit and I screamed. Could not help it. The pain was so intense. So overwhelming.
"I want the epidural," I said when it passed. "I cannot do this anymore. I need the epidural."
"Okay," Dr. Martinez said. "I will have the anesthesiologist come in."
Twenty minutes later I had the epidural and the pain was gone. I could still feel pressure. Could still feel the contractions coming. But the sharp stabbing pain was gone.
"Better?" Jason asked.
"So much better," I said. "Why did I wait so long to get that?"
"Because you are stubborn," Jason said. He was smiling.
"I am not stubborn," I said.
"You are very stubborn," Jason said. "But I love you anyway."
Another hour passed and Dr. Martinez came back. Checked me again.
"You are at ten centimeters," she said. "It is time to push. Are you ready?"
"I am ready," I said. Even though I was terrified. Even though I had no idea what I was doing. "I am ready."
"Okay," Dr. Martinez said. "On the next contraction, I want you to push. Jason you hold her hand. Support her back. Ready?"
"Ready," Jason said.
The next contraction came and I pushed. Pushed as hard as I could. It felt like nothing was happening. Like I was doing it wrong.
"Good," Dr. Martinez said. "That was good. Rest now. Get ready for the next one."
I pushed for what felt like hours. Jason counted. Encouraged me. Told me I was doing amazing. That I was so strong. That he could see the baby's head.
"I can see the head?" I asked. "Really?"
"Really," Dr. Martinez said. "One more big push and the head will be out. Can you do that?"
"I can do it," I said.
The next contraction came and I pushed with everything I had. Felt something give. Felt pressure release.
"The head is out," Dr. Martinez said. "One more push for the shoulders."
I pushed again and suddenly there was this feeling of relief. Of the baby sliding out. And then crying. Loud crying. The most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
"It is a girl," Dr. Martinez said. "You have a beautiful baby girl."
"A girl?" I said. I was crying. Could not stop crying. "We have a daughter?"
"We have a daughter," Jason said. He was crying too. "We have a daughter Caitlyn."
The nurse cleaned the baby and wrapped her in a blanket. Brought her over and placed her on my chest. She was tiny. Perfect. Had a full head of dark hair and Jason's nose.
"Hi baby," I whispered. "Hi, sweet girl. I am your mommy."
The baby stopped crying. Looked up at me with big dark eyes. Like she knew my voice. Like she had been waiting to meet me.
"She is perfect," Jason said. He was touching her little hand. Her fingers wrapped around his finger and he let out a sob. "She is absolutely perfect."
I looked at her. At her tiny face. At her little fingers and toes.
And I knew.
"Emma," I said. "Her name is Emma. Emma Rose Cross."
"Emma Rose Cross," Jason repeated. "It is perfect. She is perfect. You are perfect."