September 30th, 2013 - 41 weeks pregnant
Hotch badged into the FBI feeling impatient. It was a Monday morning and he really hadn't expected to be coming back into work this week. Beth was officially a week past due and he had been convinced that she was going to give birth over the weekend. But the contractions stayed irregular and there were still no signs of active labor. The only one more impatient than Hotch for the baby to arrive was Beth, herself.
"Still no baby?" JJ looked sympathetic, it was a question but she said it more as a statement.
"Unfortunately no, she has an appointment this afternoon that I'm going to try and go to with her. She's working from home - we both expected to be out on parental leave by now but this baby isn't exactly sticking to our timeline."
"Poor Beth, she must be miserable."
"She's hanging in there, but she's ready to be done. I think she's getting anxious about giving birth and the waiting is killing her."
JJ just nodded sympathetically - Henry had unexpectedly come 2 weeks early so she had little advice to offer.
Hotch sat at his desk catching up on paperwork. The team had gotten back yesterday from a complex case in Orlando and everyone had their fair share to work on. His phone buzzed as he worked on the case report.
*How's work going? Still thinking you'll be able to go the appointment with me?*
He had made more progress on the report than he had expected in the couple of hours he had been at work.
*I should be able to come. It's at 1PM, right? I'll pick you up from the house at 12:30?*
*Sounds great. I'll be here. Still massively pregnant.*
Hotch just chuckled and set down his phone. He needed coffee before resuming the paperwork. Beth wasn't sleeping very well these days and as a result; neither was he. Soon they wouldn't be sleeping because they would have a newborn to tend to, that seemed preferable to their current situation.
Hotch waited for Reid to refill his coffee mug before filling his own.
"You know, only four percent of babies are born on their actual due date. But the statistics are in favor of Beth having given birth by now."
"Thanks, Reid. I'm sure that will make her feel better." Hotch replied dryly. Spencer just gave him the classic awkward nod and walked back to his desk. Hotch refilled his coffee mug, drank half of it, and then topped it back off before heading back to his desk. He never realized office work could be so draining but the last 4 weeks had seemed like four months. Slowly his morning ticked away and finally it was time to pick Beth up and head to the appointment.
*Leaving work now. Be there in 10.*
He pulled into the driveway and Beth was waiting for him on the front porch swing. She got in the car and Hotch leaned over the center console to kiss her cheek and give her belly a pat.
"How was work this morning?" She asked him.
"Boring, but fine. The team sends their sympathy."
Beth chuckled. "I was talking to Jessie. She was wondering if she could pick Jack up from school and keep him tonight? I told her I would discuss it with you but I didn't think it would be a problem. It would give us a chance to try and do some things that could induce labor. Eat spicy food for dinner, go on a long walk, sex…" She trailed off.
"That sounds fine to me; although maybe sex and then spicy food?" Hotch joked with her. Beth just lightly punched his arm in response.
They pulled into the parking lot of the OB office and Hotch held the door for her as they walked inside. They were called back into one of the rooms and their midwife came in.
"Well Miss. Clemmons everything with your pregnancy is picture perfect. Your blood pressure is great, you're not diabetic, your baby's heart rate looks great on the monitor. At 37 years old you are considered "advanced maternal age" but just barely. If you wanted to be induced we could use that as an official reason but if you'd rather wait for labor to come on naturally I think that would also be a safe decision. What are your thoughts?"
Beth glanced at Hotch. "I'm really hoping to avoid an induction but I'll be the first to admit I'm getting anxious to be done. What are your thoughts on inducing versus waiting?"
"Well we could check your cervix if you wanted? It might give us a little more information to go off of. I don't see anywhere in your chart that you've been checked yet?"
"No, they've offered a couple of times but I declined. I guess I didn't really see the point. But now I am curious to know." Beth told her.
"Okay, well we can do that for you. You'll need to take off your pants and underwear and lay flat on your back. Then just bring your ankles together and let your knees relax to the sides."
Beth did as she said as the midwife gloved up and squeezed gel onto her fingers.
"You're going to feel my touch against the inside of your thigh and then lots of pressure, okay?"
Beth grabbed Aaron's hand and squeezed. It was thankfully not as bad as she was expecting. She felt the midwife sweep her fingers around a couple of times and then it was over.
"Well Miss. Clemmons. You're already 5 centimeters dilated."
"What?!" Beth said with surprise.
"Is that even possible without her being in labor?" Hotch asked the midwife.
"It's pretty rare that a mom get this dilated before labor, especially a first time mom, but it does happen. Your cervix is fairly far back and your baby is pretty high in your pelvis but 5 centimeters is still an excellent starting point."
"So what do you think about possibly inducing now that she's 5 centimeters?" Hotch asked her.
"Well honestly I think you'd have a fairly good shot at a decent induction considering you're further along than we would have expected. That being said I think if you wait for labor to come on naturally it will be a decently quick process for you and you wouldn't have to spend the whole time laboring in the hospital - you could labor at home where you'd be more comfortable. With you being as far along as you are I would be surprised if it was more than a couple of days before your body kicks into labor"
Beth glanced at Hotch again, not knowing what the correct decision was.
"It's up to you, babe." He told her.
"I think I want to wait and see if labor starts on its own." Beth said.
"I think that's an excellent decision. Labor at home for as long as you feel comfortable but if your water breaks or you start feeling like you need something to help with the pain come straight to triage, okay?"
"Okay, thank you."
The midwife exited the room and Hotch helped her off the exam table and get her pants back on.
"I can't believe our baby is going to be born in October. This whole time I was counting on a September baby." Beth said to him.
"Well, this way Jack and the new baby can share a birthday month. Hey, if you're willing to wait another 8 days they could share an actual birth day!"
"Don't even joke about such things, Hotchner." Beth glared at him and Hotch just gave her a sweet smile in return.
"Do you need anything before I go back to work?" He asked her as they walked back to the car.
"I don't think so. Are you sure you have to go back into work?" Beth looked disappointed and it took everything in him not to just go back home and take a nap with her in their bed.
Hotch opened the car door for her before going around to the drivers side and getting in. "Honestly I could take the afternoon off but any time I take off now is going to be time I don't get off once the baby is actually here."
"I know. And really I have more work to finish up. I'll see you when you get home and we can go for that walk." She reached out and placed her hand on his leg as he drove her back home.
The ride home was comfortably quiet and Hotch enjoyed the weight of her hand on his leg. He pulled back into their driveway and opened the garage door for her to get back inside. Hotch got out of the car and pulled her into a hug.
"Not too many more days of being pregnant, I promise." Hotch told her as she clung tightly to him.
Beth nodded in agreement. "Try not to work too late, okay?"
"Okay." Hotch agreed. He leaned down and met his lips with hers giving her a soft kiss before getting back in the car and waving goodbye to her.
Beth headed inside and got back to work herself. The minutes seemed to take hours before finally her work for the day was finally done. She closed her laptop and sighed.
"You can come anytime now, ya know?" She said down to her belly. She felt a little nudge in response. "I'll take that as a no, then."
She stood to go up the stairs and despite the midwife telling her the baby was high in her pelvis the pressure seemed to be increasing by the hour. It felt like soon the baby would just fall right on out of her; if only it was that easy. She changed into exercise clothes and laid in bed just waiting for Hotch to come home. Not too long after she heard the distinctive sound of the garage door opening and she heard Hotch come up the stairs.
He looked at her laying in the bed. "You still want to go for that walk?" He asked her skeptically.
"Yes," she replied definitively. "You may need to help me out of this bed though."
"Let me get changed and then I'll help you out."
She admired the view as he changed out of his work clothes and into shorts and a t-shirt. He finished pulling the shirt over his head and proceeded to lean down and grab her hands with his, pulling her off the bed and into his arms. He kissed her a few times, they had been so on edge this past week thinking the baby would be coming at any moment that they hadn't enjoyed their last days as a family of 3. Now Jack was away for the night and Hotch was determined to make this night enjoyable for them.
"Walk and then Indian food for dinner? I could pick up from that place with the samosa's that you love?"
"I like the way you think Aaron Hotchner," she smiled at him.
They walked to the park close to their house and walked the trail around it; a little over a mile long. Beth was feeling out of breath from carrying a full term baby around with her, her feet felt puffy, and her back ached like something fierce.
"Do you want to go around again?" Hotch asked her.
"I physically don't think I can, I'm so sorry."
"Don't apologize, you're literally carrying a whole other human. Are you okay to walk home, I can run and grab the car?"
"No, that's not necessary. I can definitely make it home." She said it with confidence but her back really was hurting like crazy. "I might take a bath while you get the Indian food."
Hotch took her hand and they walked home, her pace slowing the longer they walked. As soon as they got home Beth leaned over the back of the couch so her belly was hanging down.
"Are you okay?" Hotch asked her, visibly worried.
"Yeah," she groaned. "I'm just trying to get some of the pressure off my back. It's really hurting for some reason."
Hotch stood behind her and applied pressure to her lower back where it was hurting. Much to Beth's surprise it helped the pain significantly.
"Whatever you're doing, please don't stop. It's really helping."
"It's called counter-pressure, it's supposed to help with back pain in labor. I read about it in one of the labor support books you bought me."
"Thank god for you and your diligent reading habits." Beth groaned as the pain intensified. "Do you really think I could be going into labor?"
"Maybe?" Hotch honestly had no idea. "Let's get the bath going and I'll get you some water. They told us that being dehydrated can bring on false labor."
Hotch ran upstairs and started the bath before coming back down to help Beth get to the bathroom. She kept her breathing steady and her eyes on the prize. She could feel her body relax as she entered into the warm water and the pain seemed to slowly melt away.
"Better?" Hotch asked her.
Beth nodded. "I'm not sure I want you to leave to go pick up food, I'm not feeling that hungry anyway. Would you just get me a banana and some water?"
Hotch ran down to grab what she asked for and was soon back at her side in the tub.
"The pain is a lot better in the tub, but I can still feel it waxing and waning. I'm worried that when I get out it will hit with full force again."
Hotch took her hand from the side of the tub and kissed it. "Stay in for as long as you need, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Beth closed her eyes and tried to find some rest but Hotch could hear her breathing change as the pain got worse and then eased again. Soon it wasn't just breathing changes but audible moaning but her eyes stayed closed and she tried to stay relaxed. Finally after 45 minutes she opened her eyes and looked at Hotch.
"Aaron, I think we need to go to the hospital."
Hotch felt himself snap into his work mode. He kept a calm demeanor and methodically worked through tasks. He helped her out of the tub, he helped her get dried off, he held pressure on her back when a contraction hit. One thing at a time. He helped her get dressed. He helped find her shoes. The whole time he tried not to let the distraught sounds of her breathing and groaning distract him. They got down the stairs and he put their birth "go bags" in the car and helped her into the passenger seat. He hadn't even pulled out of the driveway yet when he heard a gasp.
"Aaron, I think my water just broke." Hotch looked down to see the front of her joggers were wet. Then another contraction hit and Beth groaned louder than ever before - almost verging on a scream. "Holy shit, please drive!"
The 15 minute drive to the hospital took them only 9 minutes but it seemed to take hours. Beth got louder and louder as things got more intense and Hotch had never in all his years as an FBI agent felt so helpless. He pulled into the circle drive of the hospital and ran to help Beth out of the car. She held onto him for dear life as they walked into the hospital and the greeter immediately found them a wheelchair.
Hotch rushed her up to the labor & delivery triage area and hearing her groans the nurses came to assist her very quickly.
"Okay, Miss Clemmons? We're just going to check your cervix to see where you're at and then it sounds like we're going to admit you so you can have this baby."
"She was 5 centimeters in the office this afternoon," Hotch informed them as he helped Beth scramble to take her pants and underwear off before another contraction hit.
"You're going to feel my touch and cold gel," the nurse told her.
The check was quick compared to the office. "Alright Miss Clemmons, you're already 9 centimeters dilated so we're going to get you admitted into a room so you can have your baby!"
The nurse looked excited for her but Beth was terrified. "I really want an epidural," she told the nurse.
"We'll try but it seems like your labor is moving pretty fast. We have to get an IV in and get your labs back before we can call the anesthesiologist." The nurse told her.
"Aaron," Beth looked around, panicked for her fiance.
"I'm right here, babe." Aaron stepped next to her and grabbed her hand. "You're doing just fine okay, you can do this."
Beth just nodded vigorously at him clearly trying to believe what he was saying.
"We're just going to push you in this bed to your room so keep your hands inside the rails," two nurses had already started pushing the stretcher and Beth nearly screamed as another contraction clenched around her abdomen. Between her back, her stomach, and the pressure down below Beth felt like she was about to lose all control.
As they pushed her into a labor room Beth glanced around. There must have been four other nurses in there setting everything up.
One of the nurses in the room came up to her. "My name is Maddie and I'm going to be your nurse, whenever you're ready we'll get you into the other bed."
Beth just nodded feeling unable to find words. Hotch went to her side and helped her off the stretcher and onto the hospital bed. She felt overwhelmed as they surrounded her to start an IV, have her sign consent forms, asking her questions like if she had a place for the baby to sleep or a ride home from the hospital. Everything would pause in the room as she had a contraction and everyone would just murmur words of encouragement as Hotch held her hand. Finally the pain became too much to bear and Beth flipped onto her hands and knees on the bed, the only position that provided even minimal relief. Another contraction hit her and the pressure was impossible to ignore.
"It feels like the baby is coming out of my butt," she gasped as the pressure built.
In this moment the midwife walked into her room, it was a midwife she had met in the office a few times and knew she liked. "Beth, my name is Sue. We've met a few times in the office. Sounds like you're ready to have a baby."
"I really wanted to have an epidural," Beth told her, hopelessly.
"Okay, well let's check and see. If you're completely dilated then I think the best pain relief is just going to be to push and have a baby. If you're still 9 then we can work towards that epidural."
"Do I have to get on my back?" Beth asked her.
"No, just stay right there."
Beth felt the cool gel and another contraction hit. "Go ahead and push with this contraction, Beth." The midwife told her.
Beth bared down and nearly screamed as the pain became so intense.
"Beth, you're completely dilated and your baby is right there. Even if we did have time for an epidural which I don't think we do I'm not sure it would do you much good at this point. I think we just need to push and have a baby, okay?" The midwife explained to her as gently as she could.
Beth locked eyes with Aaron, she was completely terrified. It never occurred to her that an epidural wouldn't be an option. She had been counting on it.
"You are the strongest person I know, you can do this. I am right here with you." Aaron stayed right up at the head of the bed. As close to her as he could be. "You can do this." He repeated.
Ten minutes later Beth's eyes were watering from a pain she never could have imagined. The ring of fire was putting it lightly.
"They're almost here, Beth. The baby is almost here. One more push." Hotch told her. Beth gave it everything she had and she felt the moment the baby finally left her body. It was the most relief she had ever felt in her life. Soon the baby was between her knees being dried off with warm towels.
"You did it!" Sue exclaimed. "Reach down and grab your baby!"
Beth reached down and pulled the small, wet, naked baby to her chest and sat back on her knees. The tears started pouring as the relief continued to wash over her. The baby was finally here. Beth clutched the baby to her chest as Aaron and the nurse helped her off of her knees and onto her back on the bed. She relaxed into the bed, the baby she had worked so hard for crying in her arms.
"You did it," Aaron smiled at her. His eyes brimming with unshed tears. "We have a daughter."
"We have a daughter," she grinned back at him.
Hotch placed his large hand over their daughters back and leaned in to kiss Beth's sweaty temple. "I'm so proud of you." He told her before kissing her again.
Beth and Hotch just stared in awe of their new baby girl as the room bustled around them. The placenta was delivered, her nurse got her cleaned up and donned her with fancy mesh panties and pads as thick as a diaper, a different nurse checked the baby's vitals. Finally, 30 minutes after the baby was born they had their first moment alone as a family.
"What time is it, is there time for Jack to come meet her tonight?" Beth asked him. She had no concept of time and she now realized she didn't even know what time the baby had been born.
"It's not quite 9:30. She was born at 8:58. I texted Jessica about 10 minutes ago and she said she would bring him up right away."
"Perfect," Beth sighed with contentment. "He should be here with us."
Their nurse Maddie came back in to press on her uterus and check her bleeding to make sure everything was okay. It was uncomfortable but nothing compared to what she had just been through.
"She looks like she's rooting around a bit, how would you feel about trying to get her latched on."
Beth agreed and the nurse helped her get into the best position to latch the new baby onto her breast. It took a few tries but finally she opened her mouth and started feeding.
"She's a natural," Maddie said. "I would let her feed for as long as she likes, hopefully at least 15 minutes, and when she's done offer the other side. I can help you get her relatched if you'd like."
"Thank you, for everything." Beth said to her as she gazed down at the baby suckling at her breast.
The baby nursed for about 20 minutes before drifting off to sleep. Beth pulled her off and laid her once again against her chest. She snuggled right in keeping her eyes closed the entire time. There was a soft knock at the door and it opened just enough for Jack to peak his head in.
"Is the baby here?!" Jack asked excitedly.
Hotch went to the door and took Jack by the hand. "Jack, come meet your sibling."
Beth smiled at him pulling the blankets back so he could get a better view of the baby's face.
"Jack, this is Luna Aaron Hotchner. Your baby sister."
