Chapter 21:
12:20pm.
Natalia's breathing started returning back to normal. She had just has a powerful contraction and she swore that one nearly killed her.
"You okay Nat?" Calleigh asked.
"Yeah," Natalia breathed.
"I think maybe you should get an epidural," Calleigh said. "It'll numb your pain a bit."
Natalia shook her head no. "I dreaded this moment for so long," Natalia started. "I didn't want to get one because I heard the the drugs used in an epidural, could have an effect on the baby. Plus, if the doctor's aren't careful, they could paralyze you for the rest of your life."
"Natalia, clearly you are too superstitious," Calleigh laughed. "For my sake, you should get one. Last time, you nearly fractured my hand and this time, you shouted curse words at me. I don't think I want to be around for the next contraction," she joked.
"Oohhh your time is so coming," Natalia joked, smiling. Then, her face got serious. "Thank you for being here with me."
"No problem. I'm fascinated by child birth." Calleigh laughed.
The was a knock on the door and Eric peeked around the corner. Ryan was behind him, carrying flowers.
"Hey," Eric said, looking at Natalia. He couldn't believe this moment was finally here. His first child, his first daughter and now he would witness the birth of her. He smiled.
"Hey Eric," Natalia said.
Calleigh looked at Ryan. Still a little bit of her was jealous, but this was Natalia's moment. She continued her gaze on Ryan. "So you brought flowers."
Ryan looked at Calleigh as if she lost her mind. That was extremely random and Calleigh never was really random.
"Um, yeah," Ryan said, looking at them. He specifically bought them and had them arranged perfectly for Natalia.
Everyone glanced at the door when two women came in the room.
"Hey," Natalia said excitedly.
Everyone looked at each other.
"Guys, those are my sisters, Natasha and Natara; Tasha and Tara, these are my best friends in the world, Calleigh, Ryan and Eric."
"Nice to meet you," the girls said, looking at the friend group.
Same," Calleigh, Eric and Ryan said at the same time.
There was a silence in the room and then one of the sisters yelled out. "Where's your baby's dad?"
The room became uncomfortably silent.
"Um," Natalia said, looking over at Eric. Then, Natalia's contractions started again. "Owww," she cried out. It was a strong one and she actually felt the baby moving further down.
The room was silent and Calleigh sat at Natalia's side, holding her hand. "Come on, breathe Natalia, breathe." Of everyone else Calleigh was the only on still trying to keep Natalia calm. Eric walked around to Natalia's other side.
"Someone get the doctor!!!" Natalia shouted. "She's coming!!!"
Ryan ran out the room, shouting for the doctor down the hall.
Calleigh and Eric tried to help Natalia. Her body was shaking and she had tears coming out of her eyes.
"Damn," Natalia shouted. "I feel like I'm shitting a knife!!!!" She gripped Eric and Calleigh's hand a little tighter and Calleigh gritted her teeth. This was it. The force that Natalia was putting on her tiny hand would definitely sprain it. Then, Natalia let go of their hands and held on to the bed rails, shaking it as if she was possessed.
The nurse came the room and she looked at Natalia. Another team of doctors followed in behind their lead doctor.
"How are you doing?"
"Not good," Natalia breathed. She twisted her body so that she could deal with the pain a little more.
Looking at Natalia, made Calleigh's stomach queasy. That would be her in about seven months. All that combined, gave Calleigh the urge to barf. "Excuse me." Calleigh got up and ran out the door.
Eric watched Calleigh run out the room and wanted to run out to make sure she was okay, but he had to be there for Natalia. His mind began racing. Calleigh was his fiance, Natalia was having his baby at the moment.
"Ryan," Eric called. He got Ryan's attention and Eric signaled for him to come over and hold Natalia's hand. The gesture went unnoticed by Natalia who was paying attention to the doctor who was now examining her.
As soon as Ryan touched Natalia's hand, Natalia looked at him and smiled. He smiled back. Natalia's smile brightened his day and Natalia meant so much to him. Ryan loved Natalia for so long. As a matter of fact, he might just as her to marry him soon.
Eric headed out into the hall and walked down the hall to the unisex bathroom. He knocked on the door and immediately knew it was Calleigh, just from the sound the chunks made as if hit the toilet.
"Calleigh, are you okay?"
Calleigh didn't answer but she heard him. She was incapable of talking right now as she continued to barfing. Truthfully, she just wanted to be left alone. Calleigh definitely didn't want Eric to see her sick.
Eric heard her flush the toilet and then the water came on. She opened the door a minute later and Eric was standing there.
"Calleigh, you okay?"
She nodded and smiled. "Yeah its not uncommon for a pregnant woman to throw up."
He wrapped his arm around he neck. "I love you Calleigh," he whispered in her ear. He watched as she lightly smiled and then he smile turned into a huge grin.
"Okay, Ms. Boa Vista you're actually nine and a half centimeters dilated," the doctor announced. The had moved her to a delivery room. It was now almost 3:00pm.
Calleigh begged Natalia to please not have the baby until she came back. She had to go back and pick Layla up from Child care. Alexx decided to ride with Calleigh back to the hospital. She witnessed first hand at how Calleigh took care of her daughter.
Layla knew the drill by now. She climbed up in the huge Hummer as Alexx climbed in the front seat. It was also as big of a deal for Alexx also since Alexx was just as short as Calleigh.
Calleigh walked around to the front seat and strapped her seatbelt. She looked in the rearview mirror. "Sweetie, buckle up," Calleigh smiled.
"Oh yeah," Layla said. She reached across and grabbed the seatbelt and strapped herself in, just like her mom taught her weeks ago.
Alexx smiled. "Calleigh, you're a great mom. What you're doing, it would've taken years for parents to learn, but you jumped right in. I can't wait to see you with an infant."
"Ooh, ooh," Layla said.
Calleigh looked in the rearview mirror and raised her eyebrows. Then she thought about it. Layla was anxious and she was too, a little. "Actually, Layla how about you tell aunt Alexx our secret."
Layla laughed. "Aunt Lexi," Layla said. She gave them all pet names. Layla called Alexx, Lexi; Natalia, Talia; Horatio, uncle H; Ryan, uncle Ryan or big brother; and Eric, Eric or Dad.
The day that Layla called Eric 'dad' he was the happiest person on earth. He'd never been called Dad before and it felt good.
Layla continued. "Aunt Lexi, mommy is getting married and I'm going to have a little sister!"
Alexx looked Calleigh, "you're pregnant?"
Calleigh smiled. "Yep. And I'm already eight weeks along. So the wedding has to be soon. I don't want to be 'very' pregnant in my wedding gown."
Alexx laughed. Everything was just about perfect in the lab. Natalia was about to have a baby. "Natalia never had a baby shower!" Alexx said.
"Yeah, she had her baby three weeks earlier. Her shower was planned for the weekend but it's too late. So we're just going to have a party for her," Calleigh said.
Calleigh pulled through the drive-thru of MacDonalds and ordered eight hamburgers and a kid's meal.
"Sweetie, are you hungry? I know pregnant women appetite increases but..."
Calleigh laughed. "I'm hungry but actually I ordered a burger for everyone. You, Me, Eric, Ryan, Natalia, Horatio, Natasha, Natara and one special kid's meal for Layla."
"Okay, I need everyone out of room, dad you can stay but everyone else can come back afterwards," the doctor said, shooing everyone out.
Ryan began walking out, but Natalia tightened her grip on his hand. He looked at her in the eyes and she silently told him to stay. He was just as much a part of this child as Eric.
Natalia held on to both Ryan and Eric's hand. The doctor positioned Natalia's legs apart so that she could deliver.
"Okay this is what we're going to do, Natalia," the doctor started. "I'm going to count to ten, you're going to breathe. Then, I'm going to count to ten again, you're going to push all of the ten. Then again, I'll count to ten, you're going to breathe. We're going to do that until the baby makes her entrance."
Natalia nodded.
"One...two...three..." the doctor counted. He continued until he got to ten."
Natalia sucked in a breath and pushed. Tears still came out of her eyes. This hurted so bad. Never again would she do a natural childbirth. She felt the baby moving down, inside of her. "Ahhhhh," she screamed.
"Okay, breathe Natalia."
Ryan rubbed Natalia's forehead with a cool towel.
"Okay Natalia, I need you to push harder," the doctor said.
Natalia panted. Her legs moved in pain and she felt like all this pain would make her pass out soon.
Eric watched in amazement as he watch the baby travel downward. He was only getting a stomach view, but he peeked around the corner and saw it clearly. The baby was still about thirteen inches high still inside her.
Eric watched as Natalia pushed harder, the baby sliding down eyes got big. Natalia was gripping his hand hard and her legs were shaking.
"That's right, come on," the doctor said. "Alright Natalia. Breathe. Dad's," he said, looking at Ryan and Eric. "The next one can be the big one. I need both of you to hold her feet back, help her out a little."
Eric and Ryan both agreed and grabbed her feet.
"Alright Natalia, lets make this our last push."
Natalia screamed. She closed her eyes and pushed harder she tried to ignore the pains. Eric watch in amazement as soon, his baby's head was born.
"Natalia breathe really short and push again," the doctor yelled. "She's coming.
Natalia didn't need a doctor to tell her that. She could feel the baby right there in her. She breathed and pushed more. She had to get this baby out of her. "Please get this thing out of me!!!" Natalia cried.
Again, Eric was amazed as the baby's shoulder was born. It amazed him.
"Push a little more," the doctor said, reaching down and helping her with the delivery.
"Oh my GOD!!" Natalia screamed as more of the baby pushed out.
The doctor pulled the baby out the rest of the way and sat her on Natalia's stomach.
"Oh my god," Natalia breathed, finally happy that she was out. A nurse began cleaning the baby and then finally, clipping the cord and taking the baby away to check on her vitals. The baby cried very loud.
"I can't believe it," Eric said.
"Good job Natalia," the doctor said.
The nurse came back over and handed Natalia her baby.
Natalia smiled. The baby took on Natalia and Eric's features; He skin tone was golden and her eyes were dark brown; the baby opened her eyes a little and looked up at the bright lights, closing them again. Also, she had a full head of hair.
"She's so beautiful," Eric said.
Natalia nodded, rubbing the baby's head.