Chapter 31 – Into the Breech:
"Oh God… oh God… oh sweet Jesus! Help me! Help me! Ah oh God, ah ah, ahhhhhhhhhhh!" the desperate pleads and then the wail emitting from Jane's cracked lips was utterly pitiful. Even though she was not at all religious, she couldn't help pleading to a higher power as another contraction released its sadistic torment inside her.
After her daughter had left to find the rest of the family, Jane had being lying on the bed but this proved to be far too uncomfortable for her to bear. She then spent a while trying to find a more suitable position: first on all fours on the bed, then leaning over it before trying to lean on the kitchen sink and dining table which all failed as the baby slowly started to make its imminent welcome to the world.
Jane gritted her teeth and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the spindles of the dining chair with what strength she had as the next contraction brewed. She was now squatting on the floor by the dining table, clinging to the back of one of the dining chairs. At first she deemed this to be the most comfortable position but now whether it was or not, she was not going anywhere. She did not dare move now.
"Ah, ah, argh, AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" Jane cried loudly as the pain of this contraction knocked her for six! It was definitely far stronger than the last one and they were growing stronger by the minute. Less than an hour had passed before the dull ache that accompanied each pang became a knife like thrust, vicious and relentless.
They seemed so much worse than the pains that she had with Annabelle. But it had been so long ago that maybe they were just as painful, her hormones making her memory cloudy about the pain part but clear about the joy of holding her baby in her arms. However, Jane through her strong maternal instinct felt that these were definitely more painful, more difficult and that perhaps there was a chance of things going wrong.
With great courage she released one hand from the chair, hoping that she would not collapse and thrust two of her fingers inside her. From what she felt, she could tell that her cervix was fully dilated and ready to give birth. It seemed that this baby was somewhat in a hurry and she couldn't wait for her father or Tarzan. She would have to push… on her own.
Jane rammed her chin into her chest and pushed hard. As she did so a faint rumble of thunder sounded outside the treehouse. Jane was surprised at the thunder but then again she couldn't see the sky outside what with the heavy curtains blocking the windows. Jane wished that she could just tear them down and get some fresh air into this wretched, stuffy treehouse. The air was almost fetid from weeks of little ventilation despite Annabelle's vigilant cleaning and now the stink of her labour added to the mix. Jane couldn't help but wonder if the thunder a sign… a bad omen.
"Oh God!" Jane thought when she finished pushing, "What if this is it? What if I die giving birth alone? What if my baby dies or we both die, all alone on the floor? Please hurry, oh someone please hurry!"
Whether a higher power existed or thorough evolution, either one was more than unfair when it created woman! As Jane wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand, her cotton nightgown wet with perspiration she felt as if she had now lost any sense of dignity. Sweating like a pig, squatting and clinging onto the back of the chair like some animal, straining to drop its cub. Childbirth it seemed to her the great equaliser of women. The Queen of England or a grand duchess was no different and had to suffer the exact same pain as any common jade that gives birth. There was nothing exalted about it.
It was not only the potential prospect of dying that Jane feared. She was also petrified of damaging herself. As she pushed for the second time, the pain was so great that she thought she was going to rip not just her privates but also her whole body, right down the middle. She had heard horror stories of women having their wombs prolapsing and having to be held in with pessaries, as there was no surgery to fix it or having their pelvic floor rip from front to back and then become horrifically infected.
Jane dreaded to think of that happening to her or the possibility of never being able to make love to Tarzan again. In all their years of marriage, they had a fully satisfying and loving sex life with Tarzan who was always willing to please her, as she was always willing to please him. The idea of herself never feeling any sexual pleasure, no longer enjoying Tarzan's passionate lips, strong hands, dexterous tongue and his long, perfectly formed manhood was something just she couldn't contemplate.
Miraculously just as she was about to push for the third time, the front door burst open and Archimedes raced over to her. His face was almost beetroot red and beading with sweat as he clambered up to the treehouse as fast as his little legs could carry him. As he saw his daughter squatting on the floor and holding onto the chair for dear life, he almost shook his head in disbelief at the near-animalistic pose she was in.
"Janey-Jane dear! Are you alright?" Archimedes knelt down beside her and moved a piece of damp hair off her face.
"Not good. Would you get me a glass of water Daddy?" Jane asked. She had wanted water for ages but didn't dare to move from her spot. Archimedes hurried over to the sink and pulled up a bucket of water from the water butt outside. He came back over soon enough with a large glass of water and a jug of the rest of the water and a damp tea towel. Jane chugged down the glass of water as soon as he handed it to her. It tasted so good against her parched mouth. She immediately went back to gripping the chair; she didn't have the energy to say please and thank-you.
"Oh Daddy! Whoever said giving birth the second time is easier was a bloody goddam liar!" Jane swore as another agonising contraction was building inside her. She needed to push again. She rammed her chin into her chest and pushed hard before Archimedes could suggest that she moved back to the bed.
"Well done Jane!" he smiled and dabbed her forehead with the damp tea towel.
"Have you seen Tarzan?" Jane said through short, sharp exhales, "I thought he would be here by now!'
"Anna found me first and then she went to find Tarzan and Kala. I'm sure they won't be long." Archimedes said in a cheery tone, but inside he was doubtful. There was a strong possibility that he would miss the birth but they couldn't delay it for Tarzan's sake. The health and the safe delivery of the baby was paramount.
"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH GGGGGOOOOOOODDDDDD!" Jane screamed as she pushed again and Archimedes swore that her hands would snap the spindles of the dining chair as she was gripping them with such a vice like grip.
"Daddy! Something is wrong!" Jane said when she stopped pushing. The baby was now halfway out of her womb. "Something feels different, something's wrong with the baby!"
"Alright calm down Jane," Archimedes soothed her, "Let's have a look." He helped Jane lower her bottom onto the floor. Jane placed her hands far out behind her to support herself, her feet flat on floor with her legs bent out. Jane was far past the point of caring about her father seeing her privates. He helped her deliver Annabelle all those years ago and she was more concerned about her baby. There was an agonising silence as Archimedes looked for any complications.
"It's breech," he finally said and Jane felt her stomach churn in fear. This was the last thing she wanted. She instantly imagined her father having to cut the baby out of her to save it, sacrificing her life to save his or hers.
"Jane!" The door burst open and in rushed Tarzan, followed by Kala, Annabelle and Terk! Jane was utterly relieved to see her husband but a little annoyed that Terk was with them. She was beginning to feel like she was a freak show act at the circus and the whole jungle had come along to gawp and gape!
"Mama!" Annabelle gasped at the sight of her sweat-drenched mother as she groaned in pain. The little girl instantly wished she hadn't left her poor mother alone to suffer and hot tears were beginning to well up in her eyes.
"Terk take Anna outside," Kala whispered firmly in Terk's ear, "this is too much for the young'un to see. We'll call you two in when the baby is born."
Terk nodded and gently led her niece outside. Annabelle protested at first but was soon coaxed by her aunt and quietly led outside to chat or play until it was all over.
"How are you Jane?" Tarzan crouched beside his wife and kissed her damp forehead. She looked completely exhausted, almost lily white in colour he thought. She would have to push the baby out soon before she lost all the strength to do so.
"Never better!" Jane managed to make a weak smile as he gently rubbed the small of her back, which relieved a little pain.
"The baby is breech," Archimedes told him and Tarzan felt his wife quietly grip his hand tight in fear.
"Breech? What do you mean breech?"
"The baby is coming out bottom first instead of head first," Archimedes' face was serious, "Jane has to push really hard now."
"Come on Jane," Tarzan put his other hand over their clasped hands, "you can do it. You can do it darling. I know you can." Jane gritted her teeth and rammed her chin into her chest again and pushed hard at the next contraction.
"OOOOOOOHHHHHHH GGGOOOODDD!" she screamed loudly, squeezing his hand tightly as she pushed, "No more children Tarzan! Swear to me! Promise me no more children! I can't have another one! If you dare get me pregnant again I swear I will kill you!"
"Of course darling," Tarzan soothed, smiling at Jane's pain induced threats and kissed her damp hair, "two is perfect."
"Just one more big push should do it," Archimedes nodded to her, "just one more push Jane."
'You can do it dear," Kala chipped in with some extra encouragement.
"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!" Jane screamed at the top of her lungs as she pushed with every ounce of strength left in her and in a rush of blood and mucus she felt a small, wet form slithering out of her and into her father's arms. Archimedes immediately cut the umbilical cord and wrapped the baby in a clean blanket that soon let out a mewling cry.
"Kala help Jane deliver the placenta will you?" Archimedes nodded to her and took the baby over to his desk in a somewhat serious manner.
"What's happening? Where's my baby?" Jane cried as Kala crouched in front of her.
"The Professor is just checking the baby dear," Kala replied calmly, "now let's deliver that placenta."
Soon enough Jane delivered the placenta, fully intact. Tarzan carefully lifted her up and carried her over to the bed to lie down. Jane was absolutely desperate to see and hold her baby, her father had been checking it for ages and he had not even had the courtesy to tell them what sex it was.
"Daddy," she said as Tarzan draped the bed sheets and quilt over her tired legs and swollen privates, "I want to hold my baby now. What is it? It is a girl or a boy." Archimedes came over to her and Tarzan who was sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, gently stroking her hair. Jane and Tarzan felt their pulse quicken when they noticed the rather grave expression on Archimedes' face.
"It's a boy," he finally said as the baby nuzzled into his chest, "you have a son."
"A son!" Tarzan cried in delight, "Did you hear that Jane! A son! Now we have one of each! Oh Jane I love you!"
"Your son is though… a little…" Archimedes added, clumsily trying to think of the right words to say, "different." Then he decided that the best way to tell them was to show them. He carefully handed the baby over to Jane who immediately began to cradle him in her arms.
Jane looked down at her baby, at her son. He was a little on the small side but then again he was a week or so early and she hadn't been eating much due to the constant morning sickness but he seemed strong. She opened the blanket a little and saw ten toes, two feet, two sturdy legs and his little genitals. Then a torso and two arms and hands with ten little fingers, all perfectly intact. She took in his little blood stained head covered with a scattering of dark brown hair like her husband's.
The baby opened its eyes and Jane saw that her son had one blue eye like hers and the other eye an intense green like Tarzan's. This was certainly unusual but nothing to worry about. Jane in fact quite liked it; it meant that he was exactly half hers and half Tarzan's.
Her eyes lowered and took in the nose that her son had obviously inherited from his father – but then! Jane gasped as she finally clocked on to what her father was talking about. Her baby, her poor sweet baby!
Her son's top lip was not formed together and was split widely up into his right nostril. Then as the baby yawned, Jane could see that the roof of his mouth was not fused together either, resulting in a large slit in the palate. Tears welled in her eyes, her boy, her poor sweet boy. "Oh you poor thing," she thought as the baby nuzzled into her breast. Tarzan noticed it too and she felt his sadness as he stroked her head with one hand and stroking the baby's head with one finger as if to try to stop them both from breaking down.
"What is it that?" Kala asked, shocked by the sight of her grandson's deformed mouth.
"It's a cleft lip and palate," Archimedes explained slowly, "it's when the lip and roof of the mouth do not fuse together as it should whilst the baby is growing in the womb."
"Daddy…will my son….die?" Jane whispered, almost choking on the words.
"No, no no," Archimedes shook his head vigorously, "It just means we will have to feed him a little differently that's all."
"See Jane, it's not so bad," Tarzan tried to sound positive but Jane was silent. Never in her life had she felt so wretched, this was all her fault. All that throwing up must have damaged her baby, her son. After all that waiting and trying and being imprisoned in the treehouse, Jane wondered what she did in her past to warrant such cruelty? Was God, if he existed punishing her for her past sins? If he was why couldn't he just punish her and not her innocent son? Although she loved her son unconditionally, she was filled with a mixture of emotions. Sadness, anger and fear but mostly pity, pity for her son's condition.
"Can I see it now? Can I see the baby!" The front door burst open and in rushed Annabelle, desperate to see her newborn sibling. Terk gave an apologetic shrug to Jane and Tarzan, but she was also extremely keen to see the baby after all that screaming and yelling.
"Careful Belle," Tarzan quickly warned her as his daughter nearly went to jump onto the bed and Annabelle immediately sat down next to her mother with great care.
"Can I hold it?" she asked, eyes wide in anticipation as she tried to peer at the baby.
"A little later darling," Jane sniffed back up her tears and angled the baby so her daughter could see him properly, "say hello to your baby brother." There was a tense silence in the treehouse as Annabelle observed her new baby brother, her green eyes taking in every feature.
"He's perfect!" she finally said with a massive grin on her face. "Hello, I'm Annabelle your big sister and I am going to look after you and we will have lots of fun together. When can I teach him vine swinging Mama?"
"Not for a long time I'm afraid darling," Jane couldn't help but make a little smile, "but you can teach him to walk and talk in a year or so." "Goodness, how wonderful my daughter is!" she thought. The innocence and absolute positive outlook of children was just mesmerising to her. She needed to learn a thing or two from her daughter.
Annabelle nodded and then paused for a second before saying, "so that's means I won… Mama I won!"
"Won what Belle?" Tarzan asked, both he, Kala and Archimedes were completely puzzled.
"Anna and I had a bet over the sex of the baby," Jane explained, "I said it would be a girl and Anna said it was going to be a boy. If Anna won I said she could pick the baby's name."
"Can I?" Annabelle asked tentatively, thinking that her mother might change her mind.
"No, no a promise is a promise." Jane replied, "You can pick your brother's name Anna."
Annabelle looked at her baby brother for a long time, thinking hard at what name belonged to him.
"William," she said at last and then nodded her head decisively, "William Porter."
"Willi-am," Tarzan said, sounding it out in syllables, "it's a lovely name Belle."
"Excellent choice Anna!" Archimedes beamed and Kala nodded her approval.
"It's lovely, it's perfect," Jane smiled before kissing her daughter's forehead, "William it is then. I just wish," she then turned to her husband, "that we knew your father's name. I would have liked to have your father's name as William's middle name." Tarzan took this in and thought for a moment.
"But I know my father's name," he replied, "Kerchak." He recalled Kerchak's last moments where he told him that he was his son and to lead the family. Tarzan had always seen him as his father despite Kerchak's years of icy rejection and it seemed right to have his son's middle name after him.
"Kerchak," Jane nodded in agreement, "Everyone say hello to William Kerchak Porter." Despite the shaky start and sadness over their son's deformity, Jane and Tarzan loved William with all their hearts and even though things were going to be difficult at first, they knew that they would soon adapt as they always did. Indeed, they had waited far too long and suffered too much heartache to give up now.