Posted by hummingbird on 7/11/2014, 7:48 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Well, I tried, but the final chapter and epilogue won't be posted until Monday. Here's where I add another disclaimer. Both of my children were delivered by C-section, so I had to research about labor and birthing...even then, I'm sure it was different in the 40's without all the pain management techniques women are taught today. I hope it's realistic enough and that no one is LOL by the end. (Thankfully my husband didn't catch me researching childbirth...that would have given him quite a scare!)
Chapter Forty-One
At that point, Bo did his best to cast his fears aside. He set to work trying to make everything as comfortable as possible for Nora.
He started by getting two sheets from the linen closet. He attached a sheet to both bedposts at the foot of the bed, then extended the sheets on either side of Nora. He tied a knot at the end of each sheet and placed a knot in each of Nora’s hands.
“These are for you to grip when you’re in pain,” he told Nora. I won’t be able to hold your hands at some point, so I want you to have something to hold onto.
She just nodded.
Bo then went to look into Maggie’s bag. When he removed the equipment earlier, he had seen a notepad and a small booklet.. He took those from the bag. The booklet described each of the instruments and how to use them. It also gave a brief overview of the birth process and what to look for at each step. This would be very helpful. The notepad was just a journal of sorts...notes Maggie had written after helping other women and then the genders of the children she had delivered.
Sweet Maggie, Bo thought. She's brought so many babies into this world. I hope she makes it back in time to deliver mine...
Bo’s thoughts were interrupted by Nora’s moaning and gripping the sheets in pain. Bo decided he should start timing these contractions.
“Red, every time a new pain begins, tell me. I’m timing the contractions to see how close they are.”
When the pain subsided, Nora quietly said to Bo, “You seem very calm...aren’t you nervous?”
Bo hoped it was okay to lie to his wife just a little at this moment. “I was, but Maggie left notes and information in her bag that will help us along the way. Then, hopefully, Maggie will be back in time for the big moment.”
“I feel another contraction starting,” Nora told him. He held her hand through it. She had a grip like a vice.
As it subsided, Bo asked if she wanted to walk around a bit. She agreed, and he helped her up. She put on her robe, and they took a little walk down the hall and back. He teased her about finding some music for them to dance to...she was not amused. Instead, he helped her back to bed.
“Don’t feel like dancing with me, huh?” he asked wiping her brow with a cool cloth.
“No. That’s how I got into this situation...I danced with you...that first night you came into the Aragon…” she said weakly.
“Oh...so now you’re regretting that?”
She looked into his teasing eyes. “Don’t ask me that right now.” She squeezed his hand again as another pain overtook her body.
When the pain ended, Bo made note of the time again in the notepad. Pains were about six minutes apart. He looked in the midwife book.
“Honey, I’m going to look at you now to check your progress so I can compare it to the drawings in this little book.” He reprimanded himself for not having done this before now, but he reminded himself that he was inexperienced. After doing so, he realized she was progressing normally.
“Everything seems just fine, honey. We can listen to music even if we don’t dance, right? I think I’ll try to find some.” He turned on the radio. He kept the volume low, but Nora could hear the soft sounds of Isn't It Romantic. At this moment, nothing could be further from the truth.
As Nora drifted from one agonizing pain to the next, Bo kept track in the notepad. He helped her up several times to walk a bit and to use the restroom. He checked her progress. He wiped her brow with a cool cloth...and he talked...and he talked...and he talked...
He talked of how they met and her father’s dislike of him at first, her fear of tadpoles, her inability to skip stones, necking in the loft, their friends...he went on and on and on...
When he started talking about Vinnie’s pizza, she thought she was going to be ill...and when he mentioned her corset, she finally lost her temper.
“STOP! Please just STOP TALKING! I don't need to be thinking about Vinnie’s greasy pizza or that damn corset!!! That was probably what I was wearing when this happened to me! You’ll never see me wearing it again, Bo Buchanan, I can tell you that right now! We can just take it out and burn it! NEVER AGAIN!!! Don’t even THINK about that corset...or SEX for that matter! NEVER AGAIN!”
Had Maggie been there, she would have assured Bo that this outburst was completely normal and that he was not doomed to a life of celibacy. As it was, Bo decided to heed Nora’s advice and stop talking. From that moment on, he continued caring for her through the pain, checking her often, and wiping her brow...without the chit chat.
* * * * * * *
The evening was long, full of agonizing for Nora and anxiety for Bo. She had progressed until the pains were just a few minutes apart and very strong in intensity. Finally, just before ten o’clock, Bo was seeing real progress...when he checked Nora, he saw the baby’s head.
“I SEE THE BABY, HONEY! I SEE IT'S HEAD! I SEE IT!” He shouted above Nora’s groans of pain. He looked in the booklet to see what he should do next.
Nora was writhing on the bed and shouting through her pain, “I need to push! Can I push now? I want to push!”
Bo helped her get into a pushing position. He had all of his supplies ready. He had read the section over and over again. He hoped he was ready.
“Okay, honey. Go ahead and give us a strong push,” he said to Nora.
She bore down and pushed with all her strength, panting and groaning through the pain. She fell back against the mattress as the pain subsided a bit...but the pain recurred just moments later with full intensity.
“Come on, honey! You can do this! Give me another strong push. Come on, Red!”
Nora continued pushing. The pains were agonizing, and very frequent. Nora continued working, pushing as hard as she could. It was so tiring. She took a break during a few contractions, then began again with slightly renewed strength.
After working and pushing for nearly forty minutes, she fell back against the mattress exhausted.
Bo encouraged her on. “Take a little break if you have to, honey, but I think you’re almost there. One more really big push and I think the baby’s head will be out. Come on. You can do this, Red!”
When the next contraction came upon her, Nora gripped the sheets Bo had provided and bore down with all her might. She screamed as the baby’s head emerged.
“YOU DID IT, HONEY! YOU DID IT!” Bo shouted above Nora’s screams of pain. The baby’s head is out! It’s beautiful! A beautiful face! The eyes are open!” Bo took the tiny syringe from the kit and sucked the fluids from the baby’s mouth and nose as the booklet had instructed.
“Now...one more big push for the shoulders and we’re done. One more, honey. Come on, Red!”
Nora braced herself and bore down again, pushing with all of her remaining strength. As the shoulders burst forth, Bo guided his slippery child into the world.
They heard a hearty wail from the child and a hearty laugh from it’s Daddy.
"IT'S A GIRL!!!" Bo shouted laughing. “Oh, honey, she’s beautiful!”
Nora lay back exhausted, yet exhilarated...she was laughing through her tears. “I want to see her...I want to see her...please let me see her…” she said excitedly.
Bo clamped and cut the cord as the booklet instructed. Then he wiped the baby briefly with a soft cloth and laid her on Nora’s chest. Once she made contact with her Mommy’s skin, the baby’s crying ceased and she just peered ahead.
“Oh, Bo...look at her...she’s so beautiful, isn’t she?” Nora said through her tears.
“She’s gorgeous!” Bo said grinning from ear to ear, “...just like her mommy.” He kissed Nora’s sweaty brow.
“You did so good, Red! I’m so proud of you! You were amazing!” Bo exclaimed.
“You were pretty amazing yourself,” Nora replied through tear-filled eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without you...thank you, Sweetie. Thank you so much…” He leaned over and kissed her gently.
Then Nora turned her attention back to her new daughter, “Hello sweetheart...I’m your Mommy...remember me? We’ve had a lot of long talks, you and I...Daddy and I have been waiting for you...we’re so happy you’re here...we love you already…” she whispered. “We love you so much…”
* * * * * * *
Moments after Bo and Nora welcomed their new daughter into the world, Maggie burst through the door. She smiled at the sight that greeted her...a sweaty Bo and Nora with their new baby in their arms.
“You’re late,” Bo teased.
Maggie approached the bed to take a peek.
“It’s a girl!” Bo said beaming.
“A beautiful baby girl!” Maggie exclaimed as she looked at the baby. “How long ago was she born, Bo?”
“No more than five minutes ago,” Bo informed her.
“Well then, Nora and I still have a little work to do. Bo, you take the baby for a little bit while we finish. Then we’ll get Nora and that little lady all cleaned up.”
It was nice to have Maggie there to give him instructions. Bo got acquainted with his new daughter as Maggie helped Nora deliver the afterbirth. Then Maggie bathed Nora and put fresh sheets on her bed.
After Nora was settled, Maggie showed Bo how to wash the baby. Then Bo chose a little gown and a blanket to dress her in before going back to see Mommy.
Finally, Bo placed the baby back in Nora’s arms and Maggie taught Nora how to nurse.
“But, I don’t think I have any milk,” Nora said.
Don’t you worry, Miss Nora...she’ll get what she needs. You’ll have milk in a couple of days,” Maggie assured her.
After feeling confident that Nora and baby were doing well, Maggie picked up the birthing equipment and cleaned up the room.
“Thank you, Maggie...for all of your help,” Nora said.
“You’re very welcome...I’m just sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me. But you did great on your own,” Maggie replied, “...you and Bo...I’m proud of you both.” She kissed Nora on the forehead and gave Bo a hug before bidding them goodnight.
After Maggie left, Bo stood at the foot of the bed and watched his beautiful wife nourish their daughter for the first time. He couldn’t remember ever having a moment in which he had felt more proud.
Nora glanced up at him and smiled. “Come join us, Daddy,” she said to Bo patting the mattress beside her.
Bo sat gently beside Nora on the mattress. He looked at his baby girl. Finally, after all of the stress and excitement of the day was over, tears formed in his eyes.
Nora noticed. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
Bo nodded silently. He ran a finger under his daughter’s tiny hand. It was perfectly formed with tiny dimples on each knuckle, tiny wrinkles, and tiny nails. She was finished eating, and was now resting peacefully in her Mama’s arms.
“She’s perfect,” Bo said softly. “Fresh, new...a miracle. I’m completely in awe, honey…”
He looked at Nora. “Thank you, Red. I love her...and I love you.”
(Thankfully my husband didn't catch me researching childbirth...that would have given him quite a scare!)