For a brief moment, everything in the world seemed alright, and it was until the twinge on the small of my back turned sharper.
As it did, I felt myself double over as the twinge began to radiate into my lower back. The next thing I knew, I was guided out of the room by one of the nurses— where she proceeded to make me sit in a wheelchair, and guided me to a room that was down the hall.
They proceeded to inform me that I needed to change into a hospital gown. While another nurse arrived to help me fill out all of the information that was needed and to tell me they had gone ahead and called my doctor.
When I was done changing, the nurse helped me into the bed, before placing the fetal monitor on my stomach and inserted the IV into the back of my hand.
"Dr. Garrison is on his way. He'll be here shortly to check on you." She finally said as she types some information into the computer.
"What is going to happen?" I asked clutching the railing as the twinge appeared again.
"You are having contractions. Usually, it's normal to be having Braxton Hicks, but you're contracting every two to five minutes… so, the doctor will be here soon to check on you." She explained as she adjusted the blood pressure cuff around my upper arm.
Dr. Garrison soon appeared a few minutes later with Jasper and Masen on his tail.
I sighed, clutching at the railing and inhaling deeply as I stared at them. "Jasper— what is he doing — ow fuck!— what is he doing here?" I gasped, trying to practice the breathing technique Alice and I learned in her Lamaze classes.
"Easy. He's here for support, darlin'. " Jasper explained, as he walked over to me.
"Bella… I am so sorry." Masen began, as I inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, while he took my hand.
I flinched as I felt the pain and pressure double. "Bella, dear, I am going to administer two shots for the baby's lungs and a shot of terbutaline to slow down the contractions." Dr. Garrison explained, as he looked through the nurse's notes, and the cardiotocographic machine. He then proceeds to tell me he needs to check to see if I am dilating.
"I will be checking to see that you aren't dilating. If you are dilating, there is a chance you may have to stay here for a while…" He says as clears the room, before proceeding to —painfully— check if I am dilating.
When he finishes, he mumbles something to the nurse— who then types something into the computer—before allowing her to bring Jasper and Masen back in.
"What is going on? Is my baby going to be alright?" I squeaked.
"I'm going to be honest with you, Isabella. You have dilated up to three and a half. I'm going to do everything I can to stop the baby from coming but, I need you to be calm." Dr. Garrison says calmly.
Fear flickers in my stomach before I turn to look at Jasper anxiously.
Jasper looked back at me worried. "Shouldn't you be with Alice and Maddie?" I asked, distractedly, before taking another deep calming breath.
"When the nurse brought you over here. I made sure Alice and Maddie were settled in their room before I made my way over here. Masen had just gotten here to see the girls. So, I told him, and he came with me." Jasper explained.
I nodded, biting my lower lip, and closing my eyes as I felt another contraction — a particularly painful one — hit.
I could hear movement buzzing around me, but the pain wouldn't allow me to focus on anything else.
"Alright, sweetie, I'm going to need you to lift your right arm so I can administer the first dose of terbutaline. And then we will be giving you the steroid for the baby's lungs." The nurse said as she set the small metal tray on top of the small cabinet.
I could feel Masen stare at me, as I slowly lifted my arm and the nurse stabbed it with an alcohol pad before I felt a small bee sting on the bottom part of my arm.
Then I began to feel my chest heat up, as I slowly breathed in and out, sweat dewing on my forehead as the medication slowly began to affect me.
"Jasper, go check on Alice and Maddie. I'll be alright." I softly said as he looked between Masen and me.
"We'll be fine for a few minutes. We're both adults here. Don't worry." I said, patting his hand.
He nodded before getting up and leaving the room. As he did, Masen quickly moved into the spot Jasper had occupied, looking at me with concern.
"Bella— I..." he began before I groaned gripping onto the railing, as I curled into myself from the pain.
"Are you alright?" He asked as I went rigid.
I nodded, as I felt the baby move around, erratically, as I laid back onto the mattress. "Yes, I can just feel the baby moving in there." I lied, breathing slowly.
"Look, I am sorry. I should have contacted you sooner. I am sorry for that." He began before another contraction hit, this time sharper than before.
"Ah-oh-oh!" I groaned, feeling my eyes slam shut tightly.
"Nurse!" He called, leaving the room for a moment.
Relax, I can do this...
"Oh, sweetie, the medicine will work soon… in the meantime, let's turn you on your side so I can put these in for the baby's lungs." The nurse explained, gently.
I nodded, shakingly before I felt Masen grab my hand.
"First time having a baby?" The nurse asked us as she quietly swabbed my left lower back.
I nodded— feeling a slight pinch— before I felt as she placed a bandaid on the sore spot. Proceeding to help me turn to the other side so she could repeat the process.
"There now. I'll be back in forty minutes to give you the second dose of terbutaline." She said as she scanned my hospital bracelet before she brought yet another bag and connected it into my iv.
I stared at it confused before she turned to explain, "This is magnesium, the doctor ordered this for you, it'll help you with the contractions." She said as she worked, before adding what looked like antibiotics. "this is to prevent any infections before the baby is born. Just in case it is born sooner rather than later." She explained, cleaning everything.
With the medications, my body soon began to relax, and sleep soon came.
A/N:This chapter is based loosely on the third trimester of my first pregnancy. Yes, Bella is about six months and three weeks into her pregnancy, which is exactly where I started having problems in my pregnancy.
No worries, this will have a happy ending.Til next time!
Stay safe and make good choices!