Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Power Rangers just the ones I make up in the story.
Chapter 10: Baby Boy Oliver
Angel Grove Community Hospital, Angel Grove
August 9, 1996
8 pm
Tommy pulled up to the emergency room and got out of the truck. He ran inside and grabbed a wheelchair, parked it next to the passenger side, and helped Kim into it. He pushed her into the hospital and went to registration.
"Hello, I'm Tommy Oliver and this is my girlfriend Kimberly Hart. We called the doctor a little after 7 pm and he told us to check in here," Tommy said.
"Okay, yes, we have your names right here. I'll take your girlfriend to triage and you can fill out these forms for me," the clerk said handing Tommy some forms.
5 minutes later the forms were filled out and Kim and Tommy were on their way upstairs to the maternity ward.
Tommy and Kim were taken to one of the labor suites and Kim was given a gown to change into. Tommy waited for her to change.
Then Kim came out of the bathroom and clutched the wall. She was having a contraction.
Tommy came up to her and held her until the contraction passed.
"Tommy, I'm sorry I accused you earlier…" Kim started to say but Tommy shushed her.
"It's okay, Kim. We can't think about that right now, we have more pressing things to worry about," Tommy said.
Just then a nurse came in.
"Hello, my name is Karen and I'll be your nurse for the next 3 hours. How about we get you hooked up to the fetal monitor so you're ready for the doctor to check you over, okay?" Karen said as Kim nodded.
Tommy watched as Karen hooked Kim up to the fetal monitor.
"Okay, all set. Here is the TV remote. The doctor will be in shortly," Karen said as she left the room.
Kim turned the TV on as Tommy sat down in the chair next to her bed. Then the doctor came in.
"Hello, Kimberly. How are you feeling?" Dr. Watkins asked.
"Okay so far. I've only had a couple of contractions," Kim said.
"Okay. Let's see how dilated you are," the doctor said as he put Kim's legs in the stirrups and checked how dilated she was.
"You're three centimeters dilated. I want to start a Pitocin drip and some fluids to speed things up. The baby's heart rate is good so nothing wrong there. I will have Karen check on you in an hour."
"Okay, thank you," Kim said as the doctor left the room.
10 pm
It's been two hours since Kim was admitted to the hospital. Her contractions started to speed up and she was standing up and swaying from side to side with Tommy holding her so she could deal with the contractions better.
Then Aisha came in.
"Hey, girl. I got the call from Tommy a few minutes ago. How are you doing?" Aisha asked.
"Hanging in there," Kim said breathing through a contraction. Tommy steadied her with his hands, massaging her back.
Just then the nurse came in.
"I need to check Kim over," Karen said.
"I'll be in the waiting room," Aisha said as she left the room.
Kim laid down on the bed and Karen checked her.
"You're at five centimeters dilated. Hang in there," Karen said as she left the room.
August 10, 1996
3 am
Kim was in bed trying to get comfortable. She was in a lot of pain.
"Tommy, I can't lay on my back anymore. I need to kneel," Kim said.
"Okay, I'll help you," Tommy said as he helped Kim to flip over on her knees, so she was facing the head of the bed. That seemed to help as Kim sighed a sigh of relief.
Just then Dr. Watkins came in.
"Hello, Kimberly, I see we're getting close to the end. Is the position you're in helping at all?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, a lot," Kim said breathing through a contraction.
"Let me just check you," the doctor said as he sat down and checked Kim.
"Well, my dear, you are definitely fully dilated. We'll keep you in this position to deliver the baby," the doctor said as Tommy ran to get his parents. The nurses covered Kim's back side up with a sheet. The nurses were rushing around the room to get things ready.
Tommy came back in with his parents.
"Tommy, I need you to get in the bed and let Kim hold on to you. It'll give her something to focus on," the doctor said as Tommy did as he was told to do.
"Tommy…" Kim said.
"You're going to do great, Kim," Tommy said.
"Okay, Kimberly, one big push for me now," the doctor said as Kim's fingers dug into Tommy's shoulders as she pushed.
A couple more pushes like that and she let out a scream.
"Okay the head is out. Now I need one big push to get the shoulders out."
Kim let out another scream as she pushed again. The shoulders slowly came out, one by one.
"Okay, one more push and I should be able to pull the baby out."
Kim pushed one last time and the baby left her body and started to cry loudly. Kim laid her head on Tommy's shoulder and looked at him. He kissed her on the forehead.
"You did great, Kim. It's a healthy baby boy, congratulations," the doctor said as he placed a couple of clamps on the umbilical cord.
"Want to cut the cord, Dad?" the doctor asked Tommy.
Tommy nodded as he got out of the bed, took the scissors from the doctor, and cut the cord.
The nurses helped Kim turn back on her back as one nurse took the baby to the warmer to dry him off.
Kim moved over as Tommy sat back down on the bed.
"Kim, you're the most amazing woman I ever met. I love you more than anything else in this world," Tommy said kissing her.
"And you're my rock when I need you the most. I love you to the moon and back Tommy, always have and always will," Kim said kissing him back.
"Here's your baby boy, all nice and clean," the nurse said as she placed him on Kim's chest.
Kim held her son close to her chest as he cuddled closer. She kissed him on the head and leaned into Tommy.
"How much does he weigh?" Kim asked.
"6 pounds 11 ounces and he measured in at 19 ½ inches long," the nurse said.
Kim continued to hold her son for a few more minutes until she passed him to Tommy so she could get some rest.
Tommy sat down in the chair next to her bed cradling his son. Then the baby started to fuss.
"Here's a bottle of formula to start him off so mama can get some rest. He'll need to be fed every two hours when he's this young. In two hours the lactation nurse will be in here if your girlfriend decides to breastfeed," Teri, the night shift nurse assigned to Kim, said.
Tommy knew Kim wanted to breastfeed, but she could change her mind.
Jan and James went to the waiting room to make some calls.
Tommy watched as his son was sucking on the bottle nipple. He was a very hungry little boy.
After the baby finished his bottle, Tommy was shown how to burp him. After a minute Tommy heard the little burp and he held his son against his shoulder until the baby fell asleep. Tommy laid the baby in the bassinet, went over to the cot set up for him, laid on it and fell asleep himself.
9 am
Kim was busy breastfeeding her son. Tommy sat next to her watching her every move. Their son was busy suckling away.
"You know what he needs, Kim?" Tommy said to her.
"What?" Kim asked.
"A really strong name, because we can't keep calling him "Baby Boy Oliver" for the rest of his life," Tommy said.
"Hmmm…something strong, something strong…" Kim started to say then a lightbulb went on in her head.
"How about Luca? It's like the name Lucas but without the s," Kim said.
"Luca, huh? You know, I like it!" Tommy said.
"And David for his middle name?" Kim suggested.
"So, Luca David Oliver? Sounds fitting," Tommy said.
Luca finished eating and looked at his parents with his doe brown eyes and started cooing.
"Look, he likes his name," Kim said, cooing back at the baby.
Kim handed the baby to Tommy to burp. Once the baby burped, Tommy's parents came in to spend some time with their brand-new grandson.
12 pm
Kim was holding Luca when there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Kim asked.
"It's Aisha. Can I come in?" Aisha asked.
"Sure," Kim said as Aisha came in.
Aisha stopped when she saw the baby.
"Oh, he is so cute!" Aisha said.
"You want to hold him?" Kim asked.
"Sure," Aisha said.
"Then come closer. I can't throw him across the room at you," Kim said as Aisha came closer, held out her arms, and Kim put the baby into her arms.
Aisha was unsure of herself and held the baby awkwardly until Tommy helped her.
"You need to support his head, like this. You also need to relax. The baby can sense when you're tense," Tommy said.
"But I'm afraid I'm going to drop him."
"You won't drop him. How about you sit down in the chair. That will help you relax," Kim said.
Aisha sat down in the chair and started to relax.
The baby started to coo as he stared at Aisha.
"What is his name?" Aisha asked.
"Luca David Oliver," Tommy said proudly.
"Oh that name fits him naturally!" Aisha said cooing at the baby.
"See he likes you," Kim said.
"You know, if you guys ever need a night to yourselves, just look me up. I wouldn't mind babysitting now and then," Aisha said.
"We'll keep that in mind. Thanks Aisha, for everything," Kim said.
"I didn't do much for you guys in the beginning."
"But you defended us, and you were the first person who accepted us and our situation, so thank you."
"Awe, you guys are the best!" Aisha said hugging Kim then Tommy.