Baby Oh Baby
I wake feeling the bed move, turning I watch Jasper get in and pass out instantly. It’s nine. I smile slightly, glad that he wasn’t gone for too. long. Cuddling into him I fall asleep, grateful I will wake up on Christmas morning in his arms.
I wake feeling my back hurt. Moving, I slowly get out of bed. It’s ten thirty? I groan annoyed, did I even sleep after Jasper came home? Walking to the living room I try and ignore the pain. So much for sleeping tonight. Clearing things away, the pain begins to start in my stomach.
Oh hell no! I lean against the kitchen side, refusing to accept I am in labour. This shit can’t be fucking happening! I time the contraction and the next ones, they are getting quicker, and longer. Holding back tears I fight back the scream as the pain gets worse.
“Baby girl?” I turn and look at Jasper, his eyes widening. “What is going on? Why wouldn’t you wake me?”
“You needed sleep, I’m fine.” It can take hours. I breathe trying to ignore the pain and he stops next to me.
“How long, how long have you been having contractions for baby girl?” I look at the clock, shit he will shout.
“About an hour,” I scream and grip his arm.
“Your bags and things are already in the car baby girl. Let this one pass then we will go.” I nod, maybe ignoring it wasn’t the best thing? We wait and it passes and he helps me walk, but another contraction starts.
and I have to stop, my hands gripping him.
“Baby girl, these are coming quickly. We need to leave now!” I nod, and he helps me into the car, and I know I was a fool. “Ready?” He looks at me and I nod as another pain shoots through me. My eyes widening.
“I need to push.” He stares at me shocked.
“No! Baby girl, no you don’t! Let it pass, no you don’t.” I laugh watching him freak out. His hand holds mine as it passes, I hope he is right, we wait, and the next contraction starts. “See, you don’t need to, I will drive us to the hospital.” Is he delusional?
“I need to push! Jasper I’m not fucking joking!” I scream and hit him. His hands catch mine.
“Fine, back in. I will call your midwife.” He walks around and helps me in. Standing in the kitchen I grip the side. “Try not to push yet baby girl, not until I at least get her on the phone.” He looks at me and is panicking. Okay, I need to help.
“Get towels, the kitchen was cleaned and sterilised today. Get towels in here. Scissors, make sure they are clean Jasper. Both phones, one to time things and one to call her.” I watch him nod and rush off, moving I sit on the floor. I bite against my cheek to hold in the screams and stop myself from pushing.
I sit waiting, and every contraction comes quicker than the last one and lasts longer and while I’m not pushing I don’t think it matters.
“Jasper!” Where the fuck is he!
“I’m here, I was talking to her.” He places the phone down.
TO TEL
“Harley, how are you doing?”
“I’m fine, but you might need an ambulance.” I laugh.
“What, why?” Jasper looks at me worried.
“Because I swear I can feel the fucking head and you will pass out!” I scream and he looks at me shocked.
“I’m about six minutes away. Jasper, you need to check, you can’t tell her not to push anymore!” I’m glad someone is on my side. I have a feeling he will pass out. I watch as he looks, his eyes widening.
“I said don’t push baby girl!” He stares at me and I laugh.
“I didn’t! You disappeared for five minutes!” I try and breathe.
“I can see the head, it’s part way fucking out!” He’s freaking out which makes me laugh.
I feel another contraction. “Harley, I can hear your breathing, based on what Jasper said, don’t push this time, breathe slow, until the heads out, Jasper, you need to hold the baby’s head and guide it out. Oh great, so now I can’t push! I sit and try to relax while everything is making me want to push.
“Heads out. I need whiskey.” I glare at him, and he smiles. “Joking baby girl, not that you could do much in your situation right now!” He‘ s not wrong.
“Right Harley, next contraction, push hard. Jasper, get the blankets ready to wrap the baby in. I’m literally two minutes away.”
“Okay.” I need to reply as Jasper is freaking out.
“Jasper, when the baby is born, place it on her and rub her back until she cries.”
“I need to push.”
I grasp his arm as I do, and he keeps telling me to keep going and I do, watching as he quickly picks her up “She’s born.” His words are quiet, and places he her on me. His hand rubs her back, and I panic. She isn’t crying. I look at him and he continues until we hear a small cry. I watch him sit against the cupboard taking a breath. Relief floods his face.
“Next time, I’m renting a room in the hospital for you.” I laugh at his words.
“Jasper, Harley, she was born at four minutes past twelve, she’s a Christmas baby.”
“I shouldn’t have told you not to push.” He laughs and I join in, we turn hearing the door.
“Rachel is that you?”
“No, I stopped, driving while trying to explain is hard.” I look at Jasper confused, standing he walks to the door, does he not realise he’s. covered in blood and crap?
“Baby girl, it’s for you.”
“Are you fucking joking! Jasper seriously, I have a fucking baby still attached, I don’t care who it is, they need to leave.” I look down at her
and smile.
“Princess, that’s not nice.” My eyes widen as I hear my dad, I go to move and Jasper stops me. “Stay there until you’re checked, princess.
Jasper, get a drink.” My dad looks at him and laughs. The knocking has them turning.
“I’m here, sorry.” I hear Rachel and he walks over. Sitting she checks us, telling us we did amazing but looking at Jasper he is still freaking out. I laugh slightly and he glares at me.
“It’s not my fault, daddy.” Okay, it is.
“You didn’t wake me, baby girl.”
“Jasper, both of them are fine. You did amazing considering you had no notice beforehand or time to plan. Have another whiskey.” Rachel laughs and I join in.
“I’m more annoyed I told you not to push and that you didn’t need to. If I had let you push she might have been born before midnight.” He rolls his eyes and I just smile.
“Right she needs a bath running, and moving off the kitchen floor so it can be cleaned. She also needs a drink, and something small to eat.” Rachel looks and explains packing away her things.
“I will run her bath in the spare room down here.” My dad walks off and Jasper helps me to the sofa. Lying down I feel myself drifting to sleep, Rachel shaking me slightly.
“Drink and eat something, please. Then bath, then you can sleep.” I nod and sit up, eating the small bit and food, I watch as my dad sits. cuddling her. Jasper moving and sitting next to me.
“Did you pick a name?” My dad looks at us.
“Damiana Harley.” Jasper smiles as he says it.
Baby Oh Baby
“Damiana, I like it.” My dad smiles. “Get her sorted Jasper, I will sit here with her.” My dad points to me.
“I will be here as well, I will stay for an hour and keep checking on them.” Rachel smiles and Jasper helps me through and into the bath. I lie back and close my eyes.
“No sleep baby girl. If you want to sleep, wash and out.” He looks at me and I nod, standing he helps me get washed up then dried and into bed.
“I will sit with your dad for a bit, then come through to sleep.” Kissing me he walks out and I fall asleep, too exhausted to keep my eyes open.