A/N: This is actually version two of this story, but is likely to appeal to a wider audience, so I put it first. Version one is next, then version three. A stray thought crossed my mind as I read some other fanfics with Daphne or Ginny or Hermione giving birth with the usual stereotype of threats and curses: If Hermione was to be pregnant and give birth, how would she go about it? My attempt at her method.
Standard disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters. Looked into buying the rights, found I was several billion dollars short. Or, to paraphrase a disclaimer I saw on robst's site, my thanks to Ms. Rowling for allowing all of us to build sandcastles on her beach. Enjoy.
In. Out.
Hermione was curled on her left side as the pain came again. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing as the contraction reached its peak.
In. Out.
In. Out.
Slow and steady. The contraction caused an orange glow that started low in her back and abdomen and ended up behind her eyelids. It shifted and flowed, almost like the northern lights. She could hear the midwife talking quietly to her, feel Harry rubbing her back.
In. Out.
In. Out.
Then it eased up. She opened her eyes. Harry smiled at her. "How're you holding up?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
"Still okay."
"Was that one stronger?" asked Haylie, the midwife.
"Yes. A lot." She had been walking around for the first hour or two after arrival to the birthing center, hanging on to Harry's or her a parent's arm, but didn't feel like it now.
"Then we might be getting to the active phase. It's been a while, you want to be checked?"
"Alright." Hermione felt some uncomfortable pushing and stretching, but by now she was used to it.
"Just over 4 cm dilated, Hermione, and nearly fully effaced. So you've officially entered the active phase. So, on average about 5 hours to get to 10 cm." Haylie know Hermione liked facts and figures to work with.
Hermione had wanted a 'regular' midwife for her delivery. As far as the magical world had come, St. Mungo's still wouldn't allow a non-magical practitioner in the building. After some searching Hermione had found Haylie. She was non magical, but had a magical older brother. She was a certified midwife, but would accept that a port key to St. Mungo's might be needed in an emergency. She was only a little older than Hermione, and was a wonderful source of knowledge, enthusiasm and support. They felt lucky to have found her.
"Hmph. I'm going to try to meditate for a bit. Don't wake me up unless you have to. It might take a few minutes." They had talked during her labor classes about her meditating for pain control, and Haylie was fine with it. She was curious to see how it would work.
"Okay, Hermione. I'll be right here. If I need to check you, will that be OK?"
"That'll be fine. Thanks, Haylie."
Harry pulled a chair up to Hermione's bed and sat, leaning his arms on the mattress. "You ready?" he asked, taking her hand.
Hermione nodded and looked deep into his eyes, brown meeting green. Harry whispered under his breath "Legilimens."
They floated in the darkness, tightly holding hands. There was a single point of light in the distance. It flew towards them, or they towards it, there was no frame of reference here. It hovered in front of her, now an inch or so in diameter. It flashed with colors, blue and green and white. Hermione put her eye up to it and they were sucked into her mental sanctuary in a flash.
They stood in a high alpine meadow of tall green grass and wild flowers of every color. There was the soft hum of the bees as they gathered pollen and nectar, and the chirping of birds in the distance. The sky was a bright summer blue with a few white streaky clouds high up, seemingly above the sun. Ahead was a small two story stone house with thatched roof. A moss covered stone wall surrounded the house and a small yard. She pulled Harry through the gate. On a bench under the window was a large orange striped cat, sleeping in the sun. It looked up at them as they approached and stood up to stretch.
"Hello, Crooks," Hermione said, giving his back a good scratch. Purring, he arched his back in a big stretch, then curled back up to sleep.
Hermione pushed open the front door and they went inside. On the left was a tiny kitchen. Past that was the bedroom, a crib visible through the open door. The entire rest of the house was of course a library, two stories tall. Shelves surrounded the fireplace and chimney, and the windows letting in the sun. A staircase along the back wall leading up to the upper half of the library over the kitchen and bedroom, and the balcony around the main room was also lined with books.
Harry chuckled. Hermione looked up at him. "You have more books."
"Yes, I do. And I will get more, I'm sure. Don't be mean. You're here to help."
"Just teasing. Of course I'm here to help. Shall we?"
Harry helped her lower herself on the sofa in front of the fireplace, and sat down next to her, holding her hand. On the side table were books on pregnancy and birthing. At the bottom of the stack was a book titled "The Mind Arts." Hermione felt a slight twinge of a contraction. The light through the window had a trace of orange, and the front door creaked as something pushed against it. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
In. Out.
In. Out.
Soon the twinge went away and the sky was blue again. She was going to be here for a few hours.
Harry let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. Another contraction started. Hermione did her breathing.
In. Out.
In. Out.
"Should I make you some tea, or anything?" Harry asked after she opened her eyes.
"No. Just hold me. I just need you near."
"I don't feel like I'm helping much."
"Sometimes it doesn't take much to help, Harry. Just help me stay calm and focus."
Another contraction.
In. Out.
In. Out.
The windows turned a dark orange, the walls bowed in and the roof gave a few pops.
"Getting stronger?"
"Yeah."
"Here." Harry slid to the end of the sofa, propped himself against the arm rest and held out his arms. Hermione scooted over and settled herself in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands on her abdomen. They were warm, and she felt herself relaxing as the warmth spread through her body.
"Hmmm. That feels nice. See, you are helping." She leaned back against him, putting her head on his shoulder and resting her arms on top of his.
They stayed like that for a while, contractions coming and going, her sanctuary and Harry's hands and presence keeping the pain down. The orange light came and went darkening over time, but the walls maintained their integrity.
"Getting close, do you think?" Harry asked eventually.
She sighed. "Don't know for sure. I can tell my body is getting a bit tired, but this is working well, so I don't know how things are progressing on the outside.
"Don't you mean in your insides on the outside?"
"Ha ha. Funny."
"Thank you."
"But not very."
"Hey, I thought it was good. Lighten the mood and all."
"My mood is actually good. I'm just feeling quiet."
Harry just hugged her tight and kissed her on her cheek. "I like being quiet with you."
"Thanks, Harry. I love you." She drew in a breath as another contraction started. Despite the warmth of Harry's hands on her abdomen, this one hurt. The windows blazed orange, and the walls again shifted and groaned.
In. Out.
In. Out.
She focused on her breathing and it passed.
"I must be getting closer. That was a strong one."
"About time. I was starting to wonder if she was ever going to come."
"Must take after you, then. I'm always early."
Harry just chuckled softly into her ear. "Good one."
A shadow fluttered in front of the window by the door, and there was a tapping on the glass. Hermione opened it with a wave. A raven flew in, muttering to itself, a piece of parchment in its beak. Hermione took it and the raven flew off. It said "Hermione, it's time."
"Seems like she's finally ready. Time to go love." She sounded a bit nervous.
"I know. You'll do fine."
"Thanks Harry. I love you."
"I love you too. Now I think Haylie and our daughter need you."
Hermione kissed Harry long on the lips. Relaxing back in his arms, she concentrated on the journey back out. She floated through the darkness with its single star before the outer world arrived with a rush of noise and light. She woke to hear Haylie saying "Hermione. Hermione, it's time. Time to wake up." She found herself in the middle of another contraction.
"Ahhhaaahhhahhhaaahhaaahh." Hermione felt red and yellow waves of sharp pain deep in her back and pelvis and into the region between her legs. It hurt like hell. She felt a thin layer of sweat break out on her chest and face. She was glad she didn't have much to eat that morning.
Harry squeezed her hand. "Breathe, Hermione, breathe."
In. Out.
In. Out.
The contraction passed. "Sorry, poor timing," Haylie said, rubbing Hermione's lower back. "But I didn't know how long it would take to wake you."
The contraction had ended, but the sharp pain did not recede all the way. Despite the meditation blocking the pain, she could tell her body had been working hard for a while. She felt achy and tired and quivery in her muscles, and vaguely motion sick. "Ooo, that hurt. Please tell me we're getting close."
"Yes, we are. You were complete a while ago, and the baby has been coming down nicely. You both were doing so well I didn't want to wake you. How did the meditation work?"
"Really well. With Harry's help, I didn't feel much until right before you called."
"Good. I'd be interested in trying to train other people how to do something like that, you've looked really comfortable from out here. Well, with the last contraction I could see a patch of hair. You'll probably feel the urge to push soon, if you don't already, so it was time."
"Good," Hermione said. She rested for a minute. "Can I sit up a bit?"
"Of course. Let me adjust the bed." The head of the bed rose, and Harry helped her shift onto her back. The foot lowered and she felt some of the back pain ease.
"Oh, that feels a bit better."
"Good. You're starting to stretch a bit, would you like a hot pack?"
"Please." Hermione felt a deep warmth, and felt the muscles relax a bit. "Ahhhh. That helps." A few moments later she felt the tightening start again. "Here comes another one." She closed her eyes and did her breathing.
In. Out.
In. Out.
The contraction was more powerful and painful, and the pain in her pelvis was sharper, with brighter shades of red and yellow. Sweat started dripping down into her eyes.
"Good, good. Looks like the position change let the head and shoulder come around the corner some more. Do you feel like you want to push?" Hermione shook her head, still focusing on her breathing. The contraction eased, but the pain in her pelvis remained.
She heard water dripping, then Harry put a cool cloth on her forehead. "Getting closer. The top of the head is still just visible. Should be soon. You're doing great." Hermione nodded without speaking. Haylie replaced the hot pack.
Soon the next contraction arrived, the reds and yellows brighter. The pain threatened to overcome her focus, and she felt a flutter of panic. She gripped Harry's hand tightly. She felt warmth on her cheek, heard Harry's whisper in her ear. "Breathe, Hermione." She concentrated on her breathing, and the pain felt farther away.
In. Out.
In. Out.
The contraction faded away. The cool cloth was replaced on her forehead, and she scrubbed her face with it. She felt tired. She felt sore. She felt big. She felt like she was going to be split in two. She felt another brush on her cheek. She opened her eyes to see Harry's green eyes staring back. He smiled. She felt better. She felt loved. She stretched her aching back, and scooted up in the bed a bit.
Soon she felt the tightening starting again, and it quickly escalated. The pain was accompanied by a pressure in her bum.
In. Out.
In...
Her breathing faltered. "Good, Hermione, good. Good progress with this one." Haylie noted the skip in the breathing. "Do you feel like you want to push?" Hermione nodded emphatically. "Good. Take a deep breath and hold it. Think about where the pressure is and push." Hermione held her breath, focused on the pressure and pushed.
"Excellent, lots of movement. Keep pushing, keep pushing. Good. Keep pushing until you need to breathe or the contraction ends."
Hermione strained and pushed, then the contraction eased and she gasped for air. "Ow ow ow ow ow..." The pain was nearly to the skin level now, and felt like a round ring of fire trying to burn its way out.
"I know, I know. Lots of stretching. A few more and we should have a baby. You're doing great."
She heard Harry ask "Is that her head?"
"Yep. Just starting to come out. Do you want to feel it, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded. "Let me have your hand." Her hand was guided down, and she could feel a slightly squishy hair-covered lump. "There's your baby. Almost here." Tears sprang to her eyes. This more than anything else, her swollen tummy, the kicks and flops and rolls, made it real. She was going to have a baby. She was going to be a mother. She touched it again, mentally reassuring her daughter and taking strength from her at the same time.
The next contraction ramped up quickly, and Hermione took a breath and pushed before Haylie could tell her. "Good Hermione, good! Keep going." Hermione felt the ring of fire burn and spread. Harry was holding her hand tight and whispering support in her ear. She let out a wordless yell. "Good, good, good. The head's coming... almost... almost... Ok, the head's out Hermione, stop pushing for a second. Breathe through it."
Hermione grunted and shook her head. She needed to push. Harry's voice cut through the red and yellow haze. "Breathe, Hermione, breathe."
In. Out.
In. Out.
She heard the squishy noise of the mouth and nose being suctioned. "Ready to finish?" Haylie asked. She nodded. "OK, go."
Hermione took another breath in and pushed. She felt hands around her daughter and press down. "Push, push, push, push," chanted Haylie. Hermione felt the stretching increase again, saw red and yellow in her vision. There was a small 'pop' and suddenly she felt like her insides were falling out.
"OK Hermione, you can relax! Here it comes. Your baby's out!" Hermione panted heavily, the ring of fire fading fast. Her legs started shaking, then her hands. She felt suddenly cold. "Good job, Hermione, you did great," said Haylie. She noticed the shaking. "The shaking is normal, it's the adrenaline. If you feel nauseated you let me know. You were right, it's a girl, and she looks wonderful." There was a couple of clicks. "Harry, did you want to cut the cord?" He left her side for a moment, then she heard a snip.
"Open up your gown." Hermione looked down and saw Haylie drying off a slippery slimy squirming tiny baby. "Here you go." She opened her gown and Haylie placed the naked baby on her bare chest with a wide smile. She closed the gown over the baby, then covered them both with a couple of blankets. Hermione looked into the bright blue eyes that were staring back up at her from under the blankets. There was a thick head of spiky black hair, pointing out in all directions from the towel drying. She wrapped her arms around her precious bundle and laid her head back, exhausted.
Harry was back, kissing the top of her head. Hermione turned to him and he gave her a kiss that she felt down to her toes. They broke the kiss, foreheads still touching. She looked into his eyes. She could see the crinkles from his smile. "You did it. I'm so in awe of you right now. What an amazing thing. Thank you for this." He looked down at his daughter, put a hand on her hair. "She's so beautiful."
"We did it, Harry. I couldn't have done it without you."
"You flatter me. I know I got the easy part."
Hermione smiled, then grunted as she felt a sharp pain down below.
"Sorry, Hermione, just checking. You have a bit of a tear, right near the outside. No major damage, but it's big enough I want to stitch it up. You remember our discussion about all the things I have to do after the delivery?"
Hermione nodded tiredly, lay her head back again and closed her eyes. Harry stroked her head gently. "Vaguely."
"First is the shot to help the placenta deliver and to prevent bleeding. That goes in your thigh. Ready?"
Hermione nodded again. She felt a cold swipe on her leg, then a small burn. "All done with that. While we're waiting on the placenta, I'm going to numb you up, and start on the sewing." There were some clicks, clinks and sounds of things being torn open. "Alright, ready for the numbing? It'll sting like the dickens for a minute."
"Alright." Hermione hissed at the sting and burn, but it quickly faded away. She reached around on the bed.
"What do you need, Hermione?" asked Harry.
"A pillow. I need to be up a bit more." Harry grabbed a pillow and propped her head up. She stared into her daughter's eyes again. Such a pretty shade of light blue, like the cornflowers in the meadow of her inner place, or the sky. She stroked a cheek with the back of her finger. So soft.
"Hello, Lily Jane. Welcome to the world." They had agreed on the name even before she was pregnant. Her daughter blinked and stared back some more. Tears tracked down her face, and she wiped them with her hand, sniffing.
Haylie looked up. "Alright there Hermione?"
"Alright, just emotional."
"That's normal. Just let it come. You said Lily Jane?" Hermione nodded. "That's a lovely name."
Hermione smiled and nodded again. "Harry's mum's name, my mum's middle name." Family was important.
She felt a small contraction and soon after a small leakage of fluid. "Good," said Haylie. Hermione felt a gentle tugging. "The placenta is coming out, it'll feel a little weird." She was right, it was weird. Haylie's hand gently massaged her abdomen. There was a sliding, gushing feeling, then she heard a couple of plops.
Harry echoed her thoughts. "You're right, that is weird."
Haylie laughed. "But one hundred percent normal. You're not going to pass out on me, are you?"
Harry shook his head, but did sit down on the chair again.
"OK, Hermione, that's out and appears to be all there. I'm going to press on your uterus some more to make sure it's shrinking down ok. You'll probably feel some more cramps or contractions." Haylie's hand pressed deep into Hermione's now shrunken tummy. Hermione grunted. "I know it's uncomfortable, it'll be over in a sec. Right, it's firming up nicely." The hand disappeared. Hermione rested her head back again. "I'm going to sew now. You will feel some pulling and tugging, but shouldn't feel any pain. If you do, let me know. After that I need to check inside for any tears." Haylie looked up and saw Hermione's eyes were closed. "You can rest, sleep if you want. I'll get you closed up, then cleaned up. If Lilly or I need you, I'll let you know."
"Mm-hmm," Hermione mumbled, and she nodded off.
"Hermione... Hermione..." Hermione woke slowly from sleep. She wondered why Harry was waking her up so early. "Hermione…." She opened her eyes to see Harry sitting next to her bed, a swaddled bundle in his arms, and a happy grin on his face.
"Good morning!" said Haylie. "You both had a good nap, but now she's awake and fussy, and should be nursed, and Harry's not got the right equipment." Hermione chuckled sleepily, then stretched and held out her arms. She felt better after her rest. She was sweaty, sticky, and smelled funny, but she actually felt good. It was nice just to be able to take a deep breath again, and the pressure on her back and bladder were gone. "I gave her a once over and cleaned her up. She's perfect."
Harry lowered the baby into the waiting arms. "Here you go, love." Lily's hair was washed and brushed flat.
Haylie continued. "You're all stitched up and cleaned up, or the bottom half of you anyway. Once you feed her we can try for a shower if you want."
"Thanks. That sounds lovely." Hermione tugged at her gown, opening it up. Haylie raised the head of the bed and positioned a pillow on her lap. Hermione scooted up in bed a bit and arranged Lily in the crook of her left arm. She rolled her in towards her breast and used her right hand to tap Lily's lips. Her mouth and eyes opened wide on instinct and Hermione pulled her close and popped her breast into the waiting mouth. Lily started nursing, her little jaw working, and stared up at Hermione's face for a moment before her eyes closed in contentment.
"Nicely done. You remembered the videos. Any pain?" asked Haylie.
"No pain. A little weird, but it doesn't hurt."
"Good," said Haylie. "Your parents are in the waiting room. They were in for a bit while you were napping and oohed and ahhed over their new granddaughter. You ready for them to come back in?"
"Oh, yes. I almost forgot about them. Have they been out there long?"
Haylie laughed. "Just a few minutes. I wanted to get you nursing. Do you need a blanket to cover up?"
Hermione shook her head. Pregnancy and childbirth seemed to have reset her sense of modesty.
"Alright, I'll send them in. I'll be in and out putting my equipment away, then I'll be at the desk doing my paperwork. Did you want some tea, or anything?"
Hermione looked down at her daughter, still nursing.
"When we're done, I guess. I don't know if I'm coordinated enough yet for nursing and drinking."
Haylie laughed again. "You will be soon, to be sure. Back in a tic. Give a shout if you need me."
Hermione looked down at her precious daughter as her mum and dad came in the room, smiling. Three generations in the same room. Harry looked happier than she had ever seen him, except maybe for their wedding day. Her mum came to give her a hug as her dad was telling Harry about Hermione's birth. We did it, Harry. We made a miracle. We have a family now. We're a family. She sighed contentedly. In. Out.
A/N: I fully realize this is way shorter than an actual delivery. There's only so many ways you can describe a contraction, and listing another twenty or thirty here really wouldn't serve any purpose for the story (it's fiction, not a documentary or labor manual). I have been privileged to attend many births, and have seen many of the classic stereotypes: peaceful, focused, crying, screaming, epiduraled and chatting on the phone, alone or with eighteen (really) family members in the room. Before I get tons of angry reviews saying no delivery could ever go this smoothly, or describing all the horror stories that are out there, I will relate the most blessed delivery I was witness to. It was a young college athlete with her first pregnancy. She practiced with her team until her fifth month when her tummy threw her balance off and her pelvis was sore. She started her own labor on a Saturday morning in week 40 by going for a two mile walk. She showed up at 5 cm, and progressed without a peep or meds to 10 cm. Her mother was her labor support and the only support she had. She pushed for about 30 minutes, ie about 8-10 times, also without a peep, and delivered a 3500 gram baby. No tears. Or tears. I had to laugh when she thanked me, as I really had done nothing at all other than cut the cord. She went home the next morning. Not at all typical I know, but the standard I use for what is possible.