Author Note: All baby related stuff – fluffy chapter

Chapter 26 – Baby Forman

"Well Mrs. Forman, it looks like we're going to have to induce labor. Your water broke a couple of hours ago but you haven't dilated at all." The ob-gyn nurse explained. "We're going to ask your husband to leave while we prep you."

Jackie reached out a death claw, "Eric's not going anywhere."

The nurse smiled. "Okay, but just for hygienic purposes we're going to have to ask him to sit by the door okay?" Eric smiled sheepishly and retreated to the safe area of the room. A few minutes later the nurse called him back and explained that they inserted a monitoring system so he could actually see the contractions and they could observe the baby's blood pressure. An IV had been inserted into the back of Jackie's hand and a nurse was injecting a fluid into the clear plastic tube.

"What's that?" Eric pointed to the needle.

"This is to induce labor. Once the water breaks the baby needs to come out within 24 hours or the baby and mom will be in danger."

Eric gulped. "What can I do?"

The nurse smiled kindly. "Just sit here, get comfy. There's the remote and an ice machine is around the corner. Someone will be by in an hour to check on Mrs. Forman's progress."

*

Hours had passed and Jackie was having hard contractions but the labor was not progressing like it should. Jackie was crying and Eric felt helpless. He could see exactly when the next contraction was coming and when it peaked but the baby didn't want to come out. Eric had been feeding her ice chips and wiping her face but nothing he was doing seemed to work.

"Eric, can we just go home? I'm tired of this. Oh crap, here comes another! Grrrr!"

Kitty walked in just as the contraction peaked. She had put on her nurses uniform and smiled at her haggard son. It was only 2:00 in the morning and Eric knew this wasn't her regular shift. What was his mom doing here?

"Jackie, honey? It's Kitty. How long have they been inducing labor?"

Eric answered, 'It's been about six hours. Can you make it stop? She's exhausted." Kitty smiled and went over to adjust the IV. Instantly Jackie relaxed. "The amount of Pitocin was too much for her little body. The shift nurse wasn't paying attention. But, honey I think their going to have to take the baby."

Jackie tried to sit up. "What do you mean?" Jackie and Eric held each others hand. Kitty smiled. "Dr. Harper has recommended a C-Section. Jackie is so tiny and the baby is large for her size. I mean imagine a basketball trying to squeeze through a garden hose."

Eric winced at the vision and Jackie moaned, "I Know!" Kitty laughed. "I'll be back with the anesthesiologist."

Jackie didn't want Mrs. Forman to leave. She felt scared all of a sudden and instantly Eric was there to hold her in his arms. "Jackie, this is good, my mom is here. She'll make sure the doctors don't screw up."

*

Eric was instructed to put on some hospital scrubs and some paper booties over his shoes. In the delivery room, he put the cap on his head while Jackie was being moved to another table. He supported her shoulders while they performed the epidural and he moved to the head of the table while she was draped off.

The obstetrician explained to Eric that Jackie would be awake and wouldn't feel any pain but would feel some pressure. Jackie opened her eyes, "God, I feel so good right now! Are we still having the baby?"

Eric kissed her temple. "Yes you are. They are getting set up right now. Are you comfortable sweetheart?"

"Eric, I haven't felt this good in months. I need a shot like that all the time!" she giggled sleepily.

The ob-gyn doctor said, "Okay Jackie, you may hear some odd noises and feel something unusual, but we have to make an incision to get the baby out. So relax and in about 10 minutes you'll get to meet your son or daughter."

"Okay! "She squeaked happily.

Eric was fascinated by the C-Section and repulsed at the same. There was blood everywhere but the surgical team was fast and efficient. Kitty was like a little bumblebee buzzing around making sure all the nurses were taking care of Jackie and that the surgical instruments were on the tray as required.

"Okay Dad, get ready, the baby's head is coming out." Eric watched at the doctor reached his hand into Jackie's stomach and pulled out a wet haired ball of baby. Eric felt like he was going to faint – this was surreal; his little b.b was half in and half out of the womb. The doctors suctioned out the baby's nose and mouth and the infant started to cry. Eric looked at Jackie who was crying herself. "Is that our baby?" Eric smiled, "Almost!"

He watched as the doctor reached back in and in an easy movement, pulled the rest of the baby out of the womb, "It's a girl!" the doctor announced as he laid the little girl on Jackie's stomach. "Dad, would you like to cut the cord?"

Eric looked at his mom. "Do I?" she nodded. Eric watched at the doctor clamped the umbilical cord and with shaky fingers Eric officially separated child from mother. Before he could get a good look at his dark haired daughter she was whisked away by a nurse. Kitty came over and hugged her son, "Sweetie you did so good. They're going to clean her up and check her vital signs and you'll have her back in a minute. Just sit here with Jackie okay?"

Eric sat down and found that his wife had fallen into an exhausted slumber. Minutes later Kitty was carrying her tiny granddaughter in her arms. "Oh Eric, she's perfect. Look at all this hair!" Kitty pressed a tender kiss on the soft downy cheek and handed the baby to her son.

Eric fell in love a third time. Yes, it was ridiculous – he fell in love with a picture of this amazing baby and then her mother and now he was in love with the seven pound six ounce bundle of baby Forman. He opened the swaddling to see the little arms with her fingers reaching for his. The tiny hand grabbed his thumb and held on, "Hello baby," he whispered.

"Jackie. Sweetie, wake up." She slowly opened her eyes, "What! I'm sleeping finally." She groused. Eric smiled, "Here's our baby." He held the infant up so Jackie could see. "We have a girl and she's beautiful like you." Eric kissed his wife on the lips and she reached out a tired hand to touch the little bundle.

Kitty came back, "Honey, they have to sew Jackie back up so we really need you to leave. You and the baby can go sit in the nursery over there until Jackie is back in her room."

"How long will she be gone?"

Kitty replied, "It'll be about an hour. This will give you and the baby time to bond. Go spend some time with your daughter."

Eric was led to a small nursery room with dim lights and soft cushiony furniture. He sat in a rocking chair and made first eye contact with the little girl. She yawned and smacked her tiny lips. He smiled and touched the soft skin on her cheek. She instinctively turned her head and he ran a hand over her dark hair – it was soft and silky. The baby looked at Eric's face and he smiled, she looked so much like her mother.

He brought the baby to his face and said in a soft voice, "We've been waiting to meet you. You have a whole family that loves you." The baby reacted to the sound of Eric's voice and wiggled and kicked in the blanket. He was happy that the baby seemed to recognize him so he launched into the re-telling of a Snooky the Dog story.

Kitty came to the nursery after Jackie was sent to the recovery room. "Hi honey. How does it feel to be a father?"

Eric grinned, "She's beautiful mom. She looks a lot like the pictures Jackie drew. I can't imagine my life without her in it. Do you want to hold her?"

Kitty had tears in her eyes. "Give the baby to Grandma Kitty!"

*

When Jackie woke up again, she was bone tired and sore. She opened her eyes to see Eric sleeping in a chair next to the bed and the baby lying in a plastic bassinet. A nurse came in almost as soon as she woke to take the baby. Her voice still groggy from sleep said, "Where are you taking her?"

Eric woke up and was concerned, "What's going on."

The nurse explained that they were going to give the baby some immunization shots and take the footprints and have the parents decided on a name? Eric told her they would think about it while she brought his baby back. The nurse chuckled and wheeled the bassinet out of the room.

Glad she was awake, Eric moved over to the hospital bed. "Lay with me." Eric did his best to avoid the IV lines and squeezed into a narrow spot at the edge of the bed. He slid an arm under her shoulders and pulled her towards him. "My legs are still numb so I can't move yet. Just hold me?"

He nodded and held his wife close. She seemed so fragile and yet tough at the same time. "I love you so much Jackie. You gave me a wonderful little girl."

Jackie looked into Eric's green eyes. 'I love you too. We're going to be great parents aren't we?"

*