Pahonja is Near

It was over, and she could finally relax. 

She was alone, save for Alfred who was passed out in the chair. He’d been up for the past three days straight, even though she did get sleep between it he did not. She’d gone in for another check up those few days ago and was told she was starting the very beginning phase of labor but they couldn’t do anything until she went into active. Having finally read nearly every book she could get her hands on, she was not as worried about it as she would have been a few months ago.

It wasn’t too much at first. She had been experiencing Braxton Hicks for a few weeks now and it felt about the same, maybe a little stronger as the day went on but it was nothing she could not handle. Alfred was hovering like crazy, his keys were in his pocket and everything was packed and he had a smaller bag for anything they’d need immediately by the door. She snapped at him once and it got him to back off, but by day two he was just holding her the entire time. Save for the few minutes when either needed to use the facilities or when he ran to the kitchen to get them food.

Sleep came easy, she was using her husband as a pillow per usual, and she would wake occasionally when she felt a contraction, but they were hours apart so she could easily get decent sleep with it. While sitting, she’d called Sofia and talked at length with her. Sofia showed up the evening before they’d went to the hospital and spent more time dealing with Alfred than assuring Natalia. Her contractions were not coming more frequently, but they were lasting a bit longer each time, Sofia had arrived just in time because Alfred was starting to get a bit more panicky over the contractions lasting longer but not really getting anywhere.

Just when she was getting ready to lie down for the night, her water broke. At first she didn’t know what it was, thinking she simply didn’t realize she needed to pee, until it was one step towards the door and a contraction nearly ten times stronger the previous ones knocked her down. One hand clutched on the bed, trying to keep herself up just a bit. She hadn’t realized that she cried out until Sofia came into the room in a rush.

Sofia barely managed to catch the keys that were thrown at her, Alfred had been going to bed with his pants still on with the keys in the pockets just in case, and she wasted no time in rushing to start the car. There was five minutes before another, stronger, contraction engulfed her and it lasted even longer. It was obvious she could not stand on her own, and Alfred scooped her up with ease. He grabbed the ‘carry’ bag and got them both to the car. They found Sofia had called the hospital while she was getting to the car when there was a room ready for them when they arrived.

In the five minutes from the house to the hospital the contractions had gone from five minutes to just barely a minute between them. She was already at 7cm by the time they had her set up in the bed and hooked up to everything. It all was starting to blur, Natalia couldn’t tell when one contraction ended and the next began. Save the first cry back at the house, the most noise she made was small whimpers with each stab of pain.

Barely a half hour after they arrived, Natalia was at full 10cm. With everything happening she did not have much time to stop and think, and Alfred seemed to be panicking enough for the both of them. It was killing him to see his wife in so much pain, and there was very little that could be done for it. She was glad to have her big sister there, Sofia was doing a great job of keeping Alfred in check and keeping Natalia calmer.

It was time for the hardest part, to help support her Alfred climbed onto the bed behind her, holding one of her hands tight at her shoulder. At her other side was her sister, holding one leg and Natalia’s other hand, talking between Natalia and the doctor. Not much time was spent pushing, it went relatively quick. She heard Sofia tell them it was a girl shortly before the sound of crying reached her ears.

Natalia dropped back, and would have even flopped if Alfred wasn’t there to hold her up. Alfred brushed her hair back from her face and gave the top of her head a soft kiss. “A little girl, Nat.” He whispered to her, his voice swelling with pride. A very faint smile was over her face, but she couldn’t muster up the energy to do much.

She took a shower…well more like she leaned against Alfred while he helped her wash up and get settled down into the bed. After gushing over their daughter a bit he finally sat himself down in the chair and relaxed. He was unconscious within five minutes. Natalia laughed at him, he seemed to be more tired than she was. But perhaps sleep would be a good idea, she needed it. She wiggled down into the blankets, shifting around her light discomfort to get herself into a comfortable position.

Before drifting into sleep, she looked to the hospital crib where her baby was sleeping. A small smile pulled across her face, she’d survived it and so did their little girl.

“Sladkie mechty, mytuka.” she said it softly, but knew the words would reach her daughter. “Moya Irina.” She drifted into sleep.

On the pink tag it read ‘Irina Angela Jones.’