Chapter 2.29: Dear Baby

“Watcher!” I exclaimed. “I didn’t know that baby could kick so hard.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I gasped. That one hurt. It started to feel like I was cramping up. Damn. “I’m gonna go lay down. I don’t feel so good.”

“Ok, sweetie. Do you need anything? I’m going to have dinner if you’re gonna sleep.”

I groaned. I felt like I was going to be sick. I managed to get out “Ok.” I grabbed my swollen belly, gasping for breath.

I practically collapsed onto my bed. I close my eyes trying to rest but now I swear I’m going to vomit I feel so horrible. I’m overcome with nausea, press my hand against my mouth, and manage to roll over and throw up on the floor. I’m just laying there, getting sick all over the floor and sweating so much. I feel like absolute hell right now. My stomach is tightening so much it’s painful. I push myself off the bed and all I can think of is that there’s something wrong. I can barely stand up and I use the wall to hold up my weight. I stumble out of the room and collapse on the floor. I feel like I’m about to pass out.

“Selena?” I hear my husband’s footsteps getting closer. “Selena! Watcher, are you ok?” I reply to this by yelling out in pain and I’m just sweating more and more.

“Sweetie, could you be in labor?” Labor? Was I in labor? Oh, Watcher, of course I was!

“I feel like hell.” I got out, groaning in pain. I gagged and Derek ran to get me a bowl. He made it back just in time as I emptied out the contents of my stomach, what was left. We made it over to the nursery as my contractions started to get more painful. I held onto my huge belly as the latest contraction took hold.

I sucked in my breath at the latest contraction. I could barely sit up.

“Derek?!” I yelled. “Did you call the hospital yet?”

He rushed in the room. “Yeah, but they’re 6 hours away, more with traffic.”

Damn. “Ohhhh!!” I gulped. Deep breaths. “What if something goes wrong? I don’t think I’ll make it there.” There was a chance I could make it, but I didn’t want to risk it.

He held my hand encouragingly. I think I broke it as I squeezed it so hard at my next contraction. I thought about how my plan to have a safe hospital birth was certainly not happening anymore.

“My mom had home births with both my brother and I, but…”

“Ok, we’ll time your contractions to see how far along you are.” I screamed, grabbing hold of the couch.

~~~~~

4 hours later…

“Please tell me I can push now!” I’d been in labor for hours now and I was just praying to the Watcher I wouldn’t be one of those women who was in labor for days.

His eyes got wide as he read the numbers. “Yes, you can push!”

Finally. I pushed for this first time and screamed in agony. I felt like I was going to break open.

~~~~~

I stared at my beautiful baby in my arms. This moment… it meant so much. To hold my daughter in my arms. I was scared this wouldn’t happen, and yet…here I was.