A/N: IT'S FINALLY BABY TIME, YEAH. SORRY TO DRAG IT OUT SO MUCH, BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED LABOR. MOST OF THIS CHAPTER IS BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WITH A LITTLE FICTIONAL ANGST ADDED FOR EFFECT. THANKS FOR THE REVIEW, PLEASE KEEP 'EM COMING. I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS, JUST THEIR LITTLE ADDITION. ENJOY!
(P.S. FOR ANY SOON-TO-BE MOM'S OUT THERE, I HAVE ONE WORD OF ADVISE…..EPIDURAL!)
CHAPTER 24: LABOR DAY
Dr. Logan took one look at Jordan that Tuesday morning and sent her right to the hospital. Her blood pressure was very high, she was dizzy and had an awful headache. When the rest of the tests came back, their fears were confirmed, the diagnosis; pre-eclampsia. Jordan was settled into bed, force to lay on her left side only; she was given two iv drips, one for fluid maintenance and one to lower her blood pressure. Because she was nowhere near delivery, the doctor decided to induce labor by giving her a medication that dilates the cervix. Unfortunately, this could take some time, so now the couple was forced to wait, yet again.
There was a steady stream of visitors to the room that day, Cal and Colleen were at the hospital anyway, to see Colin, who was doing just fine by the way. Woody, of course, was constantly at Jordan's side and Max was there to keep them both company. The morgue family took shifts, so someone was always there, camping out in the waiting room with Aunt Betty, Uncle Charlie and Dolly. Even Woody's partner, Lois Carver stopped by to see how everything was progressing. But progression was slow, to say the least.
It was well after midnight before Jordan even began to dilate, and labor actually began. Max had gone home but only after Woody promised to call if anything should happen, no matter what time it was. Sleep was not to be for the Hoyt's, Jordan woke up every hour or so by the endless nurses and doctors there to check her progress, vitals and the baby's readings. And poor Woody was forced to endure a night on the hard, vinyl covered recliner-bed that was there for the Dad's to 'sleep' on, which did nothing for his already aching back.
Morning broke through with some good news, Jordan had dilated to six centimeters over night so now the could proceed with induction. She was given and epidural to ease the pain of labor, even though she wasn't really in too much pain, and pitocin to start contractions. By noon she had progressed to eight centimeters and the nurses started to get the room ready for delivery. But after that, things seemed to slow down again, you see the pitocin is used to produce contractions, but the magnesium used to lower blood pressure also slows labor and could actually stop the contractions.
It was getting late, Wednesday evening had enveloped the city, the family members who had waited so patiently for this baby to arrive, were sent home. Woody and Max were the only two left in the room when the doctor had suggested Jordan try pushing. In six hours she had only dilated one more centimeter, she was now at nine. Pushing was difficult, especially after thirty plus hours in bed, but Jordan was determined to have this baby the traditional way. "Okay Jordan, here's another contraction, now bear down 1,2,3.…..", the nurse cheered. "You're doing great Sweetheart.", Max encouraged from his spot at the head of Jordan's bed. "That's it Jo, keep pushing.", Woody urged, looking from the nurse to the baby monitor, while keeping a firm grip on his wife's hand.
For two and a half hours, Jordan pushed with all she had, but the baby was not coming down,the pain of labor began to consumeher and exhaustion was over taking everyone. Dr. Logan finally made it in around 8:30pm, she asked Jordan to push one more time. "I can't. I just can't do it anymore.", Jordan cried. "It's okay honey.", Woody soothed, pushing her hair off of her sweaty face. "Jordan we have to go with plan b. The baby is starting to show signs of distress and you're exhausted, so I think we should do a c-section.", Dr. Logan said, factually. "NO! I can't have a c-section.", Jordan stated, forcefully. "It's the only way to ensure a healthy delivery and healthy baby. You know that.", Melissa said, using their shared profession to get the point across.
Jordan nodded then looked over at Woody who was now talking with Max. "What about the recovery time, I need to be able to take care of my baby and my husband. He depends on me, there are things he won't be able to do, things he needs help with, like therapy and….". Dr. Logan sighed as she interrupted, "Jordan stop, we need to get this baby out safely. I'm sure you could make arrangements for people to come and help. You had a waiting room full of friends and family out there the last two days, who would be thrilled to help you two out. Now lets go have a baby.", Melissa added, leaving the room. Dr. Logan met up with Max and Woody in the hall and explained the procedure, along with the risks and recovery involved. "You ready to become a dad, Woody?", she asked with a smile. Woody looked up at her, "Just please take care of them, they mean everything to me, I can't loose them.", he pleaded. She patted him on the shoulder then made her way to the operating room.
While Jordan was being prepped for surgery, Max and Woody sat out in the waiting room. Woody, decked in a surgical gown, looked nervously down the corridor, waiting for the nurse to come and get him. Max paced back and forth, fiddling with a rosary in his coat pocket. "Dad can you do me a favor while you're waiting……", Woody started, but was interrupted. "I'm one step a head of ya, kid.", Max chuckled and pulled the rosary out of his pocket. "It was Emily's.", he added, looking at the beads. "Mr. Hoyt, we're ready for you.", the nurse called from down the hall. Max gave Woody a quick hug, "Good luck in there. Tell my daughter I love her.", Max said emotionally. Woody nodded, and wheeled down the corridor toward the nurse, while Max walked in the opposite direction, toward the chapel.
Dr. Logan was just getting started when Woody came in and took his place next to Jordan's head. They smiled at each other with child-like anticipation as the surgery was being done. Dr. Logan explained everything she was doing in detail as she went along and within a few minutes Woody and Jordan her the first cries of their new-born baby. "It's a girl!", Dr. Logan screamed, holding the little bundle up in the air. "A girl. We have a little girl.", Woody gasped, kissing his wife on the cheek, tears running down both of their faces.
"Come here Dad and cut the cord.", the nurse called to Woody as the surgical team finished Jordan's operation. Woody tried to keep his hand steady and cut where the nurse had pointed, but it was hard to see through the tears.He watched as the nurse weighed, cleaned and wrapped his baby girl. He made his way back to Jordan, the nurse following behind with the baby. The nurse handed Woody the baby, "I love you so much.", he stated, kissing Jordan and then the baby. "I love you too.", Jordan replied, looking lovingly at her husband and their brand new daughter.