DB's Clinic on Almathea

February 9 (week 37 of Faye's pregnancy)

"What do you mean 'false labor'?!" Faye groaned. "This feels pretty damn real to me!"

DB chuckled as she looked over the computer readout. "Ah yes, it should feel real...it's your body practicing for the real deal. But, well...there's a few signs that it isn't. For one thing, you said the pains subsided on your flight here, yes? It's likely due to the change in position and possibly also the difference in gravity from your bedroom on the Bebop to the zip craft to the clinic here. And the pains have been very inconsistent. Another indication that this is just a trial run. There's also no sign down here that you're dilating. I'm sorry, mami. All signs here point to not quite yet. I know you're probably pretty tired of being pregnant by now but-"

"Oh gods," Faye muttered, rubbing her eyes as tears helplessly fell. "No, it's not... I mean I am but at the same time I'm just not ready! I was terrified we'd have the baby today and I don't even... I mean do we even have a spot for him to sleep?!"

"Uhhh...no." Spike spoke up for the first time since they'd arrived. He was sitting in a chair next to the bed Faye was reclined on, holding her hand and looking bleary eyed. "We also don't really have clothes yet. Or, well, most of the stuff we probably need."

"Oh you two are a right pair! Granted, it's hard to know what you're gonna need for the first one. Clothes aren't a big deal, to be fair. Most important is for baby to spend skin-to-skin time with both of you. He's been used to being snug and warm and hearing that heartbeat and he's gonna respond best to being on your breast, Faye, or on your chest, Spike. Sure, he's not as familiar with your heartbeat but he'll know your voice. And your body temperature will help his regulate." She smiled at the nervous looking couple. "The bed is a bigger deal but only if you wanted the baby in his own space. Lots of parents co-sleep with their offspring. It isn't necessarily the safest practice, particularly if a parent is a heavy sleeper or has nightmares, but regardless it's something many parents have done since time immemorial. Even folks that buy fancy bassinets or cribs for their babies often end up snuggling that little one in their own bed. It certainly makes night time feedings less stressful."

"Well... that's...good then," Spike said, casting a worried glance at Faye. Neither of them had the best record of sleeping without suffering bad dreams, though they were at least both light sleepers.

"What else do you need... Diapers, I suppose. You can swaddle the baby in a blanket or let him be naked, but either way you'll want a diaper for all the peeing and eventual pooping he'll be doing. Bottles, maybe. I know you want to breastfeed but it doesn't always work out like we plan so it's good to have a backup just in case. Anyway, you can also put breast milk in a bottle so Spike can handle some of the feedings. Or Jet or Ed or whomever. You don't gotta take the brunt of the work on yourself, mami."

Faye sniffled, using the hand Spike wasn't holding to wipe her own nose. "We do have diapers. Jet scored a bunch of cloth ones for us recently. There was a sale at a women's center on Ganymede and they had all sorts of baby related things. I think he also found a highchair."

"Ahh speaking of chairs...well, a type of chair anyway, you'll be needing a car seat for that vessel of yours. Safest place ain't in Mama's hands, unfortunately. But no worries! It was meant to be a surprise but... well, Bull wanted to give you something and that had been my suggestion to him. In fact we can go over installation of it when we're done in here. But I do have some more stuff to mention while we're here..."

"Stuff related to having the baby? Or to the baby's health?" Faye asked, voice hitching with fear.

"Oh you certainly are a worrier! Listen, Faye - the heartbeat is steady and strong. This lil' guy is doing fine. The issue now is...well, apparently he's gotten pretty comfy in his home. The doulas you saw on Gilbore told me he was breech and he's still in that position unfortunately."

"Breach? Doesn't that mean, like, a hull leak?" Spike asked, baffled.

"Boy, I thought you've been studying!"

"Yeah how to put him in a diaper and how to prevent choking and what rashes to look out for!" Spike snapped back. "Besides I only slept for like an hour before Faye started complaining about cramps!"

DB shook her head but smiled in reassurance. "All well and good - and to be honest it's usually best if the parents-to-be don't do too much research into nontraditional labors. Anyway, a breech position just means he's not head down, which is how we want baby to be towards the end of things. It's much easier for a natural labor if the baby moves out head first. It's not the worst thing in the world if he tries to come out feet first but it's not ideal either. Good news is that there's plenty of fluid pockets in there and he's on the small side still so he could flip around on his own and then we're golden. Some moms opt for a manual rotation done by a doctor and that can be effective as well. Some moms just choose a caesarean section where we made an incision to remove the baby from your body without bothering with the vaginal route. For now, we can take things slow and see if baby moves on his own. You've still got a week or two before things get real. Well. Most likely."

Faye moaned. "Most likely?"

"Well, yeah mami. You told me when you got here that you haven't lost your mucus plug and your water hasn't broken. Now, even if both those things happen...it still might not be time to go. Labor is different for everyone. The hope here is for baby to flip himself around for a nice easy birth, but if he hasn't rotated by your next appointment we can try to convince him to shift. I'll warn you that it's not particularly comfortable. But, let's say he stays put and you opt for the maneuver... If that stresses out the baby, we'll have to switch to a caesarean. If all goes well, you go home until labor. You're only 37 weeks right now... Best thing? That babe stays put for another week or two, does a nice little somersault to get head down, and then decides to greet the world like any other kiddo. I've got faith in you, Faye. You've been a champ this whole time and everything has gone swimmingly, even with the snags here and there."

"I... uhh...that is ...a lot of information..." Fresh tears welled up in her eyes and Spike rubbed his thumb along her knuckles in a quiet show of support. "This is such a crapshoot."

"Oh mami, that's life!" DB sighed with a grin. "You've got this, I promise. Trust in your body. Keep track of these contractions because if they become more regular then we're talking business. Typically though if it's just this preparatory stuff it'll alleviate when you change up your position. Try shifting around or taking a shower. If you're lying down, do some walking. If you're walking, try lying down. If they get more regular, or stronger and painful, or don't go away with a change in position...then we're talking real labor. You've got me on speed dial if anything gets too wild. Oh! Speaking of reaching me though... I'm headed back to TJ after an appointment tomorrow. So next time I'll be seeing you there, okay?"

"Yeah, we can be there. Jet's been wanting to run some deliveries back to Mars space anyway so we'll probably be heading that way soon enough ourselves." Spike assured her.

"Perfect! Okay, let's get you unhooked from the machine and that gel wiped up. It's time to teach you kids how to use that car seat!"