Snapshot 4: Home Delivery

She was standing at the kitchen sink when she felt a sharp twinge of pain shoot through her stomach, causing her to double over in pain, followed by a river of warm fluid that trickled down her leg.

"Oooh, gooooooodddd!" She groaned, grasping the counter for support as she took an erratic breath in.

Jennifer groaned as another twinge of pain shot through her, Jerry coming to sit on the counter in front of her.

"Mreow." Jerry said, looking up at her with concerned eyes.

"I know, Jerry, aaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhh," she groaned as yet another twinge of pain shot up her nerves, sweat beading on her forehead.

Jerry turned and jumped off the counter and ran over to the couch and sat up on it, Jennifer's eyes following him.

"That sounds like a good idea," Jennifer said as she moved over to where Jerry sat on her couch. Getting down on her knees, a bit unsteadily, she folded her arms on the sofa cushions in front of her.

Another contraction ripped up her nerves as she cried out in anguish. Reaching blindly out to the side table beside the couch, she grabbed for the phone and dialled Matt's number. The only thing heard on the other end of the line was silence.

"No, no, no, not now," she cried as she dropped the phone on the couch before reaching behind her to the coffee table for her mobile. Wrapping her fingers around the device, she clicked it on and opened the contacts list before selecting Matt's mobile number.

The phone rang and rang, before it went to voice mail. "Matt, it-" she began leaving a message only to have her phone cut out.

"Oh no, no, no! aaarrrggghhhhh!" She whimpered as another contraction ripped up her nerves.

- MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ -

The hours ticked by, and Jennifer began to think that maybe she was going to have this baby at home, with no-one else around. She had tried to call '000' a few times from the home phone, but still, the phone lines were down and her mobile was flat.

"…41, 42, 43, 44, AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" Jennifer cried out as she counted how far apart her contractions were. She knew from her birthing books and doctors appointments that she was going the have to start pushing anytime soon and she didn't want to do this, not without Matt by her side.

"Oh god, where are you Matt?" She cried, hoping that Matt would understand her message before she had been cut off.

"Oh my god, Oh. My. God!" The pain of another contraction ripped through her as she sobbed in agony.

She heard the door fly open followed by Matt's frantic voice yell up the hall.

"Jen! Jen! Jen… oh god," he said, coming to a stop by the entrance of the lounge room.

"Oh god, Matt! AAARRRGGGGHHHH!" She sobbed as another contraction ripped through her.

"Jen!" Matt immediately ran to her and fell to his knees beside her.

"Why didn't you call an ambulance?" Matt asked.

"Phone lines out, mobile flat." Jennifer sobbed as pain wracked her body.

"Ok, lets get you to the hospital," Matt started, rubbing soothing circles on Jennifer's back.

Jennifer frantically shook her head as she cried out again, "No! I need to push!"

Matt opened and closed his mouth a few times looking at Jennifer, "It's ok, Jen, it's ok." He managed to get out, reassuring her before pulling his own mobile out to dial '000'. After telling the emergency operator all the details, he took his jacket off and threw it onto a chair behind him.

"AAAAARRRGGGHHHHH, GGOODDD!" Jennifer cried, her face red and splotchy from the exertion as another contraction hit, more painful than the last.

"Come on Jen, remember to pant," Matt said, watching as Jennifer began panting with him.

"ARGH… GOD!" Jennifer cried as another contraction wracked her slowly tiring body. "I can't do this." She cried, her head lolling from side to side as she cried.

"YES you can Jen! Just remember, like wepracticed," he said, motivating her, "Just think about what it's going to be like, holding her for the first time, feeding her, changing her." Matt gently cooed before quickly taking a peek to see Jennifer's progress.

"Ok, Jen, I can see her head," Matt said, excited, as he watched his daughters head start to emerge.

"I can't…" Jennifer cried as she buckled slightly on the couch, shaking her head, tears streaming down her sweaty face.

"Come on Jen! Don't give up now, she's almost here!" Matt shouted, watching slowly as his daughter started to emerge. "Come on Jen, PUSH!"

"!" She screamed pushing again, the pain becoming unbearable.

"Come on Jen, ONE MORE BIG PUSH!" Matt yelled enthusiastically.

"!" She screamed giving one last all mighty push with all her might.

A tiny whimpering mew accompanied her scream and at that moment, she knew that their daughter had been born; the relief flooding thought her as she slipped from her body and into her fathers awaiting arms.

Lifting the tiny towel wrapped newborn into Jennifer's arms, he couldn't stop the tears that leaked down his cheeks, and they weren't tears of sadness but of joy and happiness. He was awestruck. It was love at first sight, he would always say. Not a few minutes later, he heard sirens coming down the street before they stopped out the front of their home.

A few moments later, he heard foot falls down the hallway. Two paramedics sided up to them and began checking Jennifer and their newborn daughter out. Words failed him as they began to load both mother and child onto a stretcher, Matt following closely behind them.

Grabbing his car keys on the way out the door, he ran to Jennifer's side.

"Jen, I'll follow behind, ok?" He said, pressing a kiss to her lips.

Jennifer nodded and grinned, still holding their bundle of joy in her arms as she was loaded up into the back of the ambulance.

- MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ - MJ -

Everyone had arrived soon after hearing the good news, Matt stood beside Jennifer; who sat up in bed, glowing; a little bundle wrapped in a pink blanket, cradled protectively in his arms. Everyone oohed and aahed as Matt pulled back the pink blanket to reveal soft blonde fuzz like his and piercing blue eyes like Jennifer's.

Everyone took turns holding the tiny bundle while commenting on how much she looked like both her parents. Bernice asking the obvious question.

"Have you named her yet?" She asked as she held the tiny bundle affectionately in her arms.

Matt looked at Jennifer, smiling, before continuing.

"Lindsey Isabella Ryan." He stated proudly, grinning as Lindsey began fussing.

"Oh!" Bernice said, carefully laying the bundle in Jennifer's awaiting arms. "Looks like someone's hungry."

Everyone excused themselves for Lindsey's first feeding. Stroking her cheek with a finger, Jennifer looked up at Matt.

"She's so beautiful, Matt." She said, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I know, just like her mother." He said, sitting up on the bed beside Jennifer as she nursed Lindsey, mesmerised as she clutched his finger in her tiny hand. When she was done, they put her in her crib and settled back so Jennifer could get some rest.

Matt watched both of them sleep, thinking about how lucky he was to have Jennifer and his new born daughter in his life. He said a silent prayer, thanking god for the woman that gave him a beautiful daughter.