Disclaimer:- I own nothing.
Esme POV
I stood in the kitchen making dinner. I had had my last appointment yesterday and everything was going as planned. My due date was in 2 weeks and I couldn't be happier. I loved being pregnant but I was over it now. I couldn't see my feet, my ankles were swollen, I had heart burn and I couldn't sleep, I just couldn't get comfy no matter how many pillows I had. Poor Carlisle he was pushed out of bed several times with me and my tossing and turning and moving my pillows. I even suggest that I sleep in the spare room but he would have it.
I woke up this morning with a very dull ache in my back. What doesn't ache these days! Carlisle had gone off to work early this morning. I vaguely remember him kissing me goodbye. I rolled myself out of bed and woddled to the bathroom. I had managed to have a cooling shower, get dressed then got downstairs. That's were I stayed. I was making lasagna for dinner. I had cooked the meat, I was just layering it up when I had a shooting pain go across my stomach. I stopped what I was doing and too some calming breaths. I managed to make it to the sofa where I sat down. Once it passed I carried on with dinner. About 15 minutes later I had another one. I couldn't be in labour. Could I? I didn't want to bother Carlisle at work, so I called Grace.
"Grace", I breathed out slowly
"Esme what's wrong". I could hear concern in her voice.
"I think I'm in labour and I can't drive could you help me to the hospital, I don't want to call Carlisle he will only panic". Hell I was panicking.
"Ok I'll be right over give me 20 minutes". I could her rushing collecting things
"Don't worry it's not going to happen in the next 30 minutes is it". I was trying to make a joke. I heard her mumble something but wasn't sure what. I hung up and waited there wasn't much I could do. Grace arrived in record time. She helped me into the car then grabbed my bag.
Once I was at the hospital I got check in, given then a blood and urine sample and was no lying in bed with a monitor on tracking the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. I had told them to call Carlisle. He started fussing as soon as he arrived and I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn't calm down I would not let him see the birth. So that's how Carlisle is now calm and holding my hand watching the monitor. The door opened and in came the midwife.
"Esme Cullen?" She was looking at her paper work.
"Yep."
"Hi I'm Olivia and I will be you midwife. I see you due date is 7th July." I was just nodding along.
"So you are two weeks early, baby's eager to make his or her appearance. Do you know what your having?"
"No we want a surprise." Just then a contraction hit. "Ahhggg."
"It's ok Esme just breath through it." Olivia and Carlisle's were holding my hands. Once it was over I relaxed.
"Ok so when was your last one." Olivia was back to her file.
"That was 8 minutes ago but they not getting any stronger."
"Ok so you say you woke up this morning with back pain and then you started to get the pain what 2 hours ago. Is that right.?"
"Yes I didn't take any notice of the back pain as I thought it was just another pain. It wasn't until I started to get the contraction that I realised that I might be in labour."
"Ok well you did the right thing coming in. It looks like you are in early labour. Has your cervical plug come out at all." She writing everything down and checking the monitor all the time.
"Um no not that I know of."
"Ok well this stage of labour could take a good few hours, so we are going to send you home as there is nothing we can do here at this present time."
I was in tears. I was emotional, tired and uncomfortable. Carlisle kept quite but was running his hand up and down my arm trying to reassure me. It wasn't working.
"You will feel better in your own home, I promise."
I said a shaky ok, then got dressed and went home with Carlisle. We drove home in relative silence, with the occasional are you ok from Carlisle. Carlisle had taken the rest of the day off. Once inside, I decided to finish dinner is was only 2.30pm so lots of time before dinner, I had just put the lasagna in the over when I had a particular nasty contraction.
"Ooowwww," I managed to blow out my breath to help, it was then I felt a trickle of fluid down my leg followed by what must be my cervical plug.
"CARLISLE" I shouted, he was in his office, next thing I hear his him running to get to me.
"I think I lost my plug and my waters have broken," I was shaking, Carlisle grabbed a towel so neither of us would slip then helped me over to the chair.
"Ok right, catch you breath then we will go back to the hospital ok." He was kneeling in front of me holding my hands. After a few minutes I was ready to go.
"Ok let's go." Carlisle helped me to the car and off we went back to the hospital. 3 hours after I left.
Once I was back in the ward Olivia came back in.
"Esme, back so soon." She'd had a big smile on her face.
"Yeah, I think my waters broke and I lost my cervical plug about 35 minutes ago." As I was talking she was getting the monitor ready to put on my stomach. Once attached the steady beeping of our baby's heartbeat could be heard nice and strong.
"Ok let's get you into a gown and checked out ok." She handed me a gown and left.
"Here love let me help you." Carlisle was brilliant, he helped me slowly remove my close and put on the gown and got me back on the bed.
"Knock knock, Can I come in," Olivia asked through the door.
Carlisle answered "yeah we are all ready."
"Ok so I'm going to talk you through what I'm going to do ok Esme." She had a pare of gloves on now. "Ok I need you to put your heels together and let your knees fall open ok, then I going to insert my fingers into your virgina to check the process of your cervix ok, it sounds painful but its just uncomfortable"
She has sitting on the bed while she was taking to me. "Carlisle, why don't you go and sit up with Esme and hold her hand." That's what her did.
"Ok you ready Esme, no contraction coming," I shook my head. "Ok let's see how your doing." I did as Olivia told me to do. She was right it didn't hurt just uncomfortable.
"Right your 3 cm dilated and 20% effaced." I just growned, she stood up recovered her gloves and washed her hands. "Unfortunately it can take a while for this first stage. We will keep popping in every hour or so to check you, but I will put on a portable monitor so you can move around, if you can walk that might help move things along. Right let's check babies heartbeat." Olivia took out two elastic straps then put them round my belly. "Now I need to stay on the monitor for 30 minutes to get a good reading the you can move around if all is ok." She attached 2 monitors on my tummy using the stripes to keep them in place. She found the heartbeat easily. "Right nice and strong, the other one will track your contractions ok. Now do you want pain medication?"
"I wanted to try on just gas and air to start with." I had Carlisle's hand in a vice grip.
"That's fine, no problem we will get that set up for you, I'll pop back in about 30 minutes." She checked the monitor again then left. It was relaxing hearing my baby's heartbeat.
"Can I get you anything my love." Carlisle was stroking my arm.
"Just some snacky bits and pieces and drinks lots of drink please." Carlisle just smiled at her. "Ok baby, are you ok till I get back?"
Just then a contraction hit. "Ooohhhh," I breathed in through my teeth. "Yes I'm fine go the sooner you go the quicker you'll be back."
Once Carlisle was gone. I just laid back and tried to think about my baby. What will he/she look like, hair colour. I'm so excited, but nervous. I was able to doze while Carlisle was gone, I didn't hear him return but when I woke up he was asleep in the chair. I looked over at the monitor it was still beeping away. Olivia popped her head in just then.
"Oh your awake. I'm glad you've been able to sleep. We can take this off for a while if you like, so you can walk around."
"Oh that would be great. I really needed to bathroom and I wanted to move."
"So the contractions didn't keep you awake at all." Olivia was looking at the print out.
"No not really, I mean I new they were happening but I was just so tired." I got up and walked to the bathroom.
"That's good as you will need all your strength for later. It looks like the contractions have slowed down a bit, but hopefully with you moving around they may pick up again. If not we will give you something to get them moving again. When your finished I want to check you again. Ok. " As I can out the bathroom Carlisle woke up.
"Love you should have woken me I would have helped you." He was still very bleary eyed.
"I'm fine." I sat down on the bed. I got myself into the right position. Again it didn't hurt it was just uncomfortable.
"Ok so your still 3cm but your 30 percent effaced. I think we need to think about trying the cervical sweep. I will insert my fingers and sweep my finger over your cervix to try and speed things up. If that doesn't work we can try the pessary ok. "
"Yeah I think so. This is a lot to take on board so quick that's all." I was trying not to panic.
"I know it can be. I will be right back to do the sweep ok." I just nodded.
"Esme it's going to be ok, they know what they are doing. Just relax. If your stressed the baby will be stressed." I was trying. Olivia came back in.
"Ok you ready."
"As I will ever be." I got back into position. I felt her hand, still uncomfortable. Then it was done.
"Right I will put you back on the monitor ok." So I was plugged back in again. That is were I stayed for about an hour, it was then I felt the first contraction again. Carlisle was there holding my hand.
"It alright love it will be over soon." Easy for him to say. I just breathed through it. In, out, in, out.
"Well the sweep worked," I muttered. That's how things went for the next few hours, the contractions were getting stronger and more frequent. When Olivia came in to check my progress I was a little disappointed.
"Ok Esme your 6cm dilated and 50% effaced."
"Is that all." I cried out.
"I'm sorry but you are making great progress. Why don't you try and walk around for a bit ok." She gave me a small smile.
"Come on sweetheart let's go for a walk." Carlisle helped me up. I stated to walk about. It did feel a little better, until a contraction hit.
"Oh Carlisle it hurts." I had my hands round his neck, he hand his arms round me.
"I know my sweet, but just think about what we will have at the end of this. Our little baby." He kissed my sweaty head. I nodded. But I was tired.
We carried on walking a bit longer until I could walk much more for the pain. "Aarrhhhh," I cried out.
"Come let's get you back." Carlisle helped my back to my room. The contractions where getting stronger. "Let me get the midwife." Carlisle pop out the room. But within moments he was back with Olivia.
"Right let's get you some gas and air then we can check your progress." Olivia set up the gas and air. "Right you put this in you mouth then deep breaths in and out. It works quickly but will leave your body quickly, so you need to keep breathing for it to work." I just grabbed it and started taking deep breaths. I got into the position just as a bad contraction hit. "Ooooooowwwww."
"Deep breaths remember Esme. That's it in, out again. Has it finished." I nodded. "Right let's check you. Well your walk worked 8cm and 80% effaced. You doing really well Esme. Not too much longer. Call if you need me."
I wanted to cry I was shattered I didn't know how long I could carry on like this. "That's it I'm done, no more please."
Carlisle POV
Esme was exhausted beyond belief. "I know you are Es, but you can't give up now. Come on maybe a change of position might help." If looks could kill I would be a dead man!
"It's your fault I'm in this position!" I couldn't hold my laugh back. That got me a smack round the face. "Don't you dare laugh at me! Oh god I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hit you. Oh I'm a monster."
"Sweetheart you are not a monster, your in pain and I laughed I'm sorry. But come try getting on all fours." She glared at me. "Not like that you minx." I helped her turn over I put a pillow by her head so her bottom was in the air. I put some pressure on her lower back as I rubbed.
"Oh yes harder please." I heard the door open. "I needed to check to see if I heard right." Olivia chucked. "How are doing Esme."
"Aaarrrhhh I want this baby out." Esme cried.
"Ok let's check you and we will see how we can help you." I helped Esme onto her back again and watched as Olivia checked my wife.
"Not long now Esme. 9 cm and 100% effaced. Hopefully you should start to push in the next hour or so."
"WHAT! I can't do this for another hour." Olivia turned to me. "Has she been eating and drinking at all."
"She's been sipping sugary drinks and but food makes her sick." Olivia nodded. "Well you should deliver before I go off shift."
"Your not leaving me are you." Esme was in tears apon hearing that.
"Don't worry you will have Lacy taking over. She's lovely ok not to worry."
"Stop saying don't worry, that just makes me worry more. Oh I need the bathroom Carlisle please help me." "Ok love". I helped her up and walk to the bathroom. She put her head on the middle of my chest as she was sitting on the toilet. "Oh something changed. I need to push."
"All right Esme don't push." I hit the call button and Olivia and another girl came in. "She says she needs to push."
"Ok Esme I looks like things have just taken off, let's get off there and on the bed." They both helped Esme sort herself out and then made it back to the bed. "Hi I'm Lacy. I was going to be taking over but looks like I'm helping now."
"Right let's check you out then we can see just how far you are."
Esme layer on the bed but her legs in the right position and Olivia checked her progress. "Ok Esme your 10 cm and fully effaced. Now comes the hard work."
"WHAT! What do you call the last few hours a cake walk." Esme cried. Olivia smiled st her. "I call it practice sweetie. Right you said you needed to push, on your next contraction I want you to tuck your chin to your chest and push like you need the toilet ok." She nodded. "Now Carlisle you can either stay were you are or sit behind Esme to help."
"Behind please Honey," Esme panted out.
"Ok sit forward baby." I straddled the bed, Esme laid on my chest holding my hands.
"Ok Esme he comes a contraction like I said big push, Carlisle can you help by holding her legs behind the knees." I did as instructed. Esme hands moved to my arms.
"Right and push Esme 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 and breathe. And again 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 that it's breath."
"That's it's honey." I'm trying to be supportive.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH I hate you Carlisle." Esme screamed while she squeezed my arms to the point she might break them. I hoped that was only the pain talking.
"No Esme use that to push your baby out. Ok and push...". This went on for about 40 minutes
"Your doing so well Esme." Lacy encouraged.
"I need to change position please not working for me" Esme cried.
"Ok what do you want to try." Olivia was brilliant.
"On all fours." So we all helped her change so she was more comfortable. I moved to head of the bed so I could help where I could.
"Ok Esme ready and push..."
I rubbed she shoulders, her back, her arms anywhere I could.
"Good sweetheart, I'm so proud of you." Again I offered encouragement.
"Right Esme looks like baby is going to be big so I'm going to need to make a small cut to your perineum so you don't tear ok."
"Oh god," Esme cried. Lacy had got everything ready and in no time at all Olivia was ready.
"It's al right baby, you can do this." I kissed her lips, cheeks, forehead.
"Right I'm going to put some local anaesthetic in first you will feel sharp scratch and some stinging."
"I already feel that," she screamed. "All right I'm about to make the cut, then we can get baby delivered."
"I don't know how much more I can do." Esme was exhausted.
"Your doing so well my love, you heard Olivia not long now and we can hold our baby."
"Ok, all done, right couple more big pushes." Olivia coached.
Esme put her chin to her chest and pushed with all her might.
"That's it another on like that." Lacy said. Again Esme pushed.
"Right I want you to pant now so baby's head comes through a slowly as possible so you don't tear where we've cut. That's it Esme pant. Slight burning now, baby's head is crowning. Good girl keep panting." Both Olivia and Lacy were fantastic.
"Right baby's head out, baby has lots of hair. Right just going to rotate the shoulders then one more big push and baby will be here."
"Did you hear that love." I kissed her messy sweaty hair.
"I need to push again," Esme panted.
"Ok then one more big push." And Esme did. They there was silence for a moment, then the most fantastic cry in the world cried out.
"It's a boy and he has a good pair of lungs on him. Here Esme let's get you on your back then you can have him." I helped Esme move then she opened her gown and they placed our son on her chest.
"Oh wow sweetheart you did it, oh he's beautiful. Thank you, thank you." I was crying. I didn't care. I kissed Esme, I kissed my son
"Oh he's gorgeous Carlisle. Hello my sweet boy."
"Carlisle do you want to cut the cord." I just nodded. I followed what Olivia said and cut. "Right I just want to weigh him and clean him up, we will be right over there. Lacy can you deliver the placenta please."
"Yeah I've just given Esme the syntocinon injection. Esme you may feel some small contractions as the placenta is delivered ok."
Esme POV
"Yeah ok." Oh god I was sore and tired. All I wanted to do was sleep, I couldn't believe we have a son.
"Right he's a big boy here 11lb 5oz, and I think he is hungry, if your ready to try." The baby was screaming.
"Yeah I can try. Carlisle can you help me sit up please." "Oh course honey." He took my hand and the other round my waist and helped me into a sitting position. I already had my top open. The nurse placed him in my arms.
"Ok may I touch you to show you," Olivia asked.
"Yeah," I was very nervous if I could actually do it.
"Right, you take your breast and brush your nipple from his nose to his mouth and he should open his mouth, just like that. Now make sure he has the whole Arreola in his mouth, that way it shouldn't hurt. How does that feel."
"Weird, but it doesn't hurt." I took hold of my breast like Olivia had so I could take over.
"Right you will feel a contraction and a gentle pulling, it just the placenta being delivered, once that's done, the doctor will come in to stitch you up." Lacy was saying I heard most of what she said but I was more concerned If I was feeding my son right.
"Don't be surprised if he feeds little and often as at the moment he's taking your colostrum which is think and quite filling, over the next few days your milk will start to come through, any concerns or questions just ask."
"I will thank you Olivia, thanks Lacy. Ooohhhhh there's that contraction." I screwed my eyes shut and breathed through my nose.
"You alright my love," Carlisle whispered as he watched our son. "Uuuuuhhhhh" I breathed out and nodded my head. The baby detached himself and went to sleep.
"Do you have a name for him?" Olivia asked as she was tidying up.
"Emmett McCarthy Cullen."
Well what do you think?
Please remember to review, please.