A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Seventy Five
About two weeks later:
Jeffrey and Sam are sitting on the couch watching a movie. For the last two weeks, Sam has spent more time outside her clinic than before. Most days, he would find her in the nursery when he came home, arranging things. More of the baby's stuff seems to have appeared downstairs than there was before. He never asks her about, but smiles when something new shows up downstairs. Laying his hand on her stomach, he leans in and kisses the side of her neck. Turning her head she looks at him. The last check up with Dr. Sedgwick was a few days before and everything seems to be progressing as normal. When the movies over, he looks down and finds that she's fallen asleep again. It's getting more and more frequent that she does that. He still smiles as he gently wakes her up. "Sam, let's go to bed." He whispers, as she sleepily opens her eyes.
"What about the movie?" She mumbles, looking at the TV. It's turned off.
"You fell asleep." He says, as she looks at him and tears fill her eyes. "Hey, it's okay."
"But I haven't watched a complete movie with you in months."
"It's okay and it's not about the movie." He says, helping her up. He slips his arm around her as they walks towards the stairs. "Are you okay?" He asks, feeling how tense she seems to be.
"Yeah, I'm just tired and my back is hurting."
"How long has it been hurting?"
"It started this afternoon. It's nothing J. It was a little busier today than it's been and I was on my feet more." She says, waddling up the stairs in front of him.
"Go lay down and I'll rub your back." He says, as they walk into their bedroom.
"Let me change for bed, first." She says, turning to him.
"Alright, but then I'm giving you the best massage you've ever had." He says, as she waddles into the bathroom. He goes to the closest to change for bed. He's putting his clothes in the hamper when she comes out and walks over to the dresser. He watches her for a moment before he goes into the bathroom to finish his nightly routine. When he comes back out, the closets empty. Flipping the light off, he goes into their bedroom. Sam is laying on her side of the bed, on her side, since she can't lay on her stomach anymore. The covers are pushed to the end of the bed.
The moment he touches her, he can feel the tension in her back muscles. "Are you sure you're okay?" He asks, as he works the muscles in her lower back. He feels the muscles relaxing but not as much as they usually do when he does this.
"I'm fine." She says with her eyes still closed.
He works on her back for about twenty minutes and it feels like she's relaxed some. "Is that better?" He asks, as she hums. He lays down behind her. Slipping his leg between hers to take some pressure off her hips. He lays his hand on her stomach and then softly kisses her shoulder. "I love you two." He says softly.
"We love you too." She mumbles back.
"Alright, I'll let you sleep." He says, sitting up and pulling the covers back over them. He moves into the same position and smiles as she settles back against him.
Sam was already up when Jeffrey woke up the next morning. It didn't surprise him really. As the pregnancy moved along, she hadn't always been able to sleep through the night and it sometimes hurt her more to lay in the bed. Pushing the covers back, he goes to the bathroom to do his business and then heads downstairs. Sam is on the couch with a throw over her and she's asleep. He watches her for a moment before he kneels beside the couch. Pushing her hair back from her cheek, he watches her before he gently shakes her shoulder. "I don't wanna get up." She mumbles and he laughs softly.
"Sorry Beca, but you can't stay here on the couch." He says softly.
"Tired." She mumbles.
"You can go back to bed but you don't need to sleep on the couch. Remember the last time you slept here." He says, as she slowly opens her eyes. "Morning beautiful." He says, brushing her hair off her shoulder.
"J." She mumbles softly.
"Yes."
"What time is it?"
"A little before seven, you fell asleep on the couch. When did you come down here?"
"I don't know. I guess I slept for a few hours but then my back started hurting again and I had to get up." She replies, as he helps her to sit up.
"Is your back still hurting?" He asks as she nods "Are you feeling anything else?"
"Just uncomfortable, maybe a little pressure." She mumbles again.
"Okay, I'll help you upstairs and then I'll get ready for work." He says, pulling the throw off her. He helps her up and then they slowly shuffle their way back upstairs. He gets her settled into bed before he goes to the closet for his shower and to get dressed for the day. Sam is laying on her side, with her pregnancy pillow between her legs when he comes out of the closet.
"You're not dressed for work?" She says, as he walks over to the bed. He's dressed in jeans and t-shirt.
"No, I'm not. I think I'll stay here today."
"But you have things you need to do at City Hall."
"There's nothing there that the deputy mayor can't handle. I'll call Stace and have her move any pressing appointments to later in the week. I think you need me here today."
"My back hurts a little bit J, but I'm okay."
"Sam, I rubbed your back for about twenty minutes last night and it only slightly relieved the tension in your lower back and you said that you're feeling uncomfortable and a little pressure so I'm staying here." He says, leaning over to kiss her softly. "I'm going downstairs to make us some breakfast. Do you want to come with me or should I bring it back up here?"
"I don't feel like moving." She says, as he nods.
"I'll be back as soon as I get it fixed."
"Okay." She says. But her tone says something else. "J." He stops at the door. "Can you call Mel and see if she can move my testimony to later?"
"Sure." He says, as she nods. She closes her eyes as he walks out of the bedroom.
Jeffrey is finishing up breakfast when he looks up and sees Sam coming down the stairs. "Hey, I was going to bring this up to you?" He says, as he finishes plating her breakfast. "I called Mel…." He looks up and sees her face. "What's wrong?" He asks, quickly turning the stove off and coming to her. "Is it the baby? Are you…?"
"I think I need to go see Dr. Sedgwick."
For a moment he's frozen before it hits him. "You're in labor…."
"No, I don't think I'm in labor, but I'm having minor cramps, sort of like mild period cramping and it feels different from the Braxton Hicks pains that I've had. So I think we need to go see Dr. Sedgwick."
"She said everything was progressing as normal."
"I know, but this is different. Please J, just…."
"No, no, of course I'll take you." He says, rushing around her to get her coat and his. He turns towards the door and then stops "My wallet and keys." He halfway turns towards the stairs but she stops him.
"I've got them in my purse." She says, pulling his keys and wallet out. She hands them to him. He kisses her quickly before he opens the door and slowly hurries her out the door.
He helps her across the porch and down the steps to the sidewalk. She shuffles along with his hand at her back. When they reach the car, he opens her door and helps her in before he rushes around to the other side. Getting in, he fumbles putting the key in the ignition. "J, take a breath. And you might want to open the garage door before you start the car and put it in gear." He looks at her and she smiles.
"Don't laugh at me, we're having a baby. Should we just go to the ER instead of Dr. Sedgwick's office?" He asks, as he pushes the button on his visor to open the garage door.
"Dr. Sedgwick's office is fine. Her office is already in the hospital so we'll already be at Cedars if this is something more."
"Alright." He says, turning the key and starting the car. He puts it in gear and backs out. "What about the clinic?"
"Leah will open up. Yesterday was my last day of being on the schedule, maternity leave." She says, as he nods.
"Okay, I forgot about that." He says, glancing at her with a smile.
Once their headed towards Dr. Sedgwick's office, she reaches for his free hand. She takes it as he looks over. "I'm okay, J."
"You could be in labor and it's early if you are."
"If this is labor, then they'll be able to stop it." She says, squeezing his hand. "It will be okay." She says, as he looks at her before he pulls through the intersection by Company.
It takes a couple passes before he's able to find a parking place close enough to suit him. Pulling in, he cuts the car off and then gets out. Rushing around the car, as she opens her door. He helps her out and then closes the door. As the walk away from the car, he pushes the button that will remotely lock the car and set the alarm. Five minutes later, he holds the door to Dr. Sedgwick's office open and then helps her sit down before he goes to explain the situation to the receptionist. Not even a minute later, Dr. Sedgwick's nurse is calling her back. After settling her into one of the exam rooms, the nurse tells her. "Go ahead and get into the gown and I'll let Dr. Sedgwick know that you're here."
"Thank you." Sam says with a small smile. As the door closes, Sam steps behind the changing curtain. As quickly as she can, she changes into the gown.
"It's it worse?" Jeffrey asks, as she climbs up onto the table..
"The cramps seem about the same, but my lower back is hurting now. The muscles are tight and I can't get them to relax." She says, as he moves over to the table.
"Would it help if I rubbed it?" He asks as she smiles and leans slightly forward. Gently he begins to massage her lower back and it does help but the pressure is still there as is the cramping. "Is that helping?" He asks, still rubbing her back after a couple of minutes.
"Yes." She says, as the door opens and Dr. Sedgwick comes in.
"Sam, I didn't expect to see you this soon." She says, laying Sam's chart on the counter beside her.
"I know." Sam replies.
"What seems to be the issue?" Dr. Sedgwick asks.
"She's in labor?" Jeffrey declares first.
"I'm not in labor, at least I don't think I am. But my lower back is hurting, there's pressure and cramping, sort of feels like cramps I get when I'm coming into my cycle."
"Well, I see that you've tried massaging your lower back. Does that help?"
"For a bit but it's not long. And shifting positions doesn't do anything, I'm still tense." She says.
"Okay, if you'll lay back. I'll look and see what is going on." She says, as Jeffrey helps her to lay back.
Sitting down on a stool, Dr. Sedgwick rolls over to her. Sam is holding onto Jeffrey's hand as she gets into position. It's not even a minute before Dr. Sedgwick sits up. "Mr. O'Neill, I think you're right." Dr. Sedgwick says, pulling off her gloves.
"I'm in labor?" Sam says. Jeffrey can feel the tension in her double as well as hear the fear in her voice. "It's too soon. I'm only at 35 weeks."
"I know and we do have options. I can give you something to stop the contractions. But as you know those come with risks or we can wait and see if the labor stops on its own." Dr. Sedgwick says, as Sam looks at Jeffrey.
"I don't want the drugs to stop the labor. There's too many risks with them. How far am I dilated?" Sam asks.
"Between two and two and a half centimeters. So right now, you're still in the first stage of labor and your water hasn't broke. If it stays that way, and the labor stops I'll send you home but that means that you're going to be on bed rest until you're due date. I'll also prescribe an antibiotic as a precaution."
"What about steroids?" Sam asks.
"I don't think we'll have time for them to be of any benefit if the labor continues and if it stops then hopefully they won't be needed."
"Is my age causing this?" Sam asks, looking just slightly guilty.
"You're age could be a contributing factor, but I don't think it's a serious one. You're healthy and you've taken care of yourself. You don't smoke, or use illegal drugs and you have had limited use of alcohol. So honestly, I can't tell you what caused this."
"Would and ultrasound give you any more information?" Jeffrey asks.
"I would consider it if there was bleeding, which would be an indication that there could be complications with the placenta, but you don't have any symptoms as of right now and I honestly don't think you will have them."
"So right now we're basically waiting to see if the contractions stop." Jeffrey asks.
"That pretty much sums it up." Dr. Sedgwick replies. Jeffrey takes her hand as Dr. Sedgwick stands up.
"While we wait, I'll have the nurse bring you a dose of antibiotic and then I want you to lie back and try to relax."
"Dr. Sedgwick, she's four weeks away from her due date. What happens to her or the baby if the labor can't be stopped?" Jeffrey asks.
"Most pregnancies are considered full term at forty weeks and some at even thirty seven weeks. That Sam's is at thirty five weeks isn't optimal and the babies could spend some time in NICU as a precaution. But I think they will be fine in the long run."
"But you're talking about giving her steroids and antibiotics?"
"The antibiotics are only a precaution and as I told Sam. I don't believe giving her steroids will be of any benefit to her or the baby. The steroids are given to help speed up the development of the baby's lungs to help improve lung function, but they need time to be most effective and if she continues with labor there's just not enough time for the steroids to be beneficial. If it comes to the point that we deliver your baby today, I will give her magnesium sulfate to help prevent the chance of cerebral palsy. The antibiotics will also help with that. Right now, I think we need to focus on relaxation and hopefully that will stop the contractions and if that happens then I will send her home but she will be on bed rest for at least two weeks and possibly until she actually delivers."
"What other complications are there, if she delivers before she's full term?"
"Besides the lung function being low, a baby that's born early can have problems regulating their body temperature, they can have low blood sugar as well and they can be jaundice, but even a baby that's full term can have problems with jaundice."
"What is that?" Jeffrey asks, looking at Sam and Dr. Sedgwick.
"Jaundice is where the baby's liver doesn't filter out bilirubin effectively. It happens in full term babies as well as preemies. Usually if a baby has this issue we will use phototherapy to help remove the excess bilirubin until the liver can catch up and remove it on its own." Sam explains.
"Does the phototherapy ever not work?"
"Sometimes but more often than not it does work. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. We won't have to worry about these issues if your labor stops. So like I said, I want you to lie back and try to relax. I'm going to have the nurse bring you the antibiotic along with some water. I want you to drink it. I'll come back in an hour to check you again."
"Okay." Sam says, lying back with Jeffrey's help as Dr. Sedgwick opens the door and leaves.
Jeffrey is still holding her hand when the nurse comes in with the dose of antibiotics and the water. He helps her up again and back down after she takes the pills and drinks some of the water. For the most part neither one of them talk as they wait to see if Sam's labor will stop.
After an hour, Dr. Sedgwick comes back in. "How are you feeling?"
"My water hasn't broke, but the cramps are coming quicker and lasting longer, so the pressure is building." Sam says, as Dr. Sedgwick nods.
"Let me look and we'll see where we are?" Dr. Sedgwick says, sitting down on her stool. Sam gets into position with Jeffrey standing beside her, holding her hand. It's a quick check before Dr. Sedgwick pulls back. "Okay, I'm admitting you." She says, taking her gloves off. "You've dilated to about three and half centimeters and I don't think it's going to stop unless I give you the drugs which you said you didn't want to take." Dr. Sedgwick says, as Sam nods.
Jeffrey moves closer when Sam's grip tightens. "It's going to be alright Sam." He whispers, pressing his lips to the side of her head.
"It's too soon J." She whispers, sniffing as he reaches up and wraps and arm around her.
"You're a doctor, Beca. You know what his odds will be." Jeffrey whispers.
"I also know that anything can happen." She mumbles closing her eyes.
"Sam." Dr. Sedgwick says. Sam looks at her. "He's a little early, but you know that he has a higher chance of being normal, than he has of developing complications. You know that the indicators for complications would've come before now. Cedars has the best NICU unit in this area. If they are needed, they can handle anything that might come up. But if the need arises, and I sincerely don't believe that there will be a reason for this, we can med flight him to the children's hospital in Chicago. Don't let yourself focus on the negative. You're about to experience one of the most awe inspiring experiences a woman faces during their life. And after this is all over and you look back, the fear you feel now will have faded and you'll be left with that feeling of becoming a mother." Sam looks at her and nods. "I'm going to contact labor and delivery, let them know we're bringing you over and to have a room ready for us. If there's anyone you want to call, you might want to do that now." Dr. Sedgwick says, looking at Jeffrey.
"I've already spoken with my assistant."
"I think she means our family J." Sam says, as Dr. Sedgwick smiles. Jeffrey looks at her. "Go call Ava and can you call Megan for me?" Sam asks, as he looks at her.
"Will you be…?"
"I'll be fine. I'm only going to lie here and wait for Dr. Sedgwick to return. Go call them, they'll be upset, especially Megan if we don't call."
"Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can." He says, leaning in to kiss the side of her head before he follows Dr. Sedgwick out of the room. Sam lays back, lightly rubbing her stomach as they leave.
Jeffrey's gone less than ten minutes. When he comes back, Sam is sitting up and she's breathing deeply through her nose. He looks at the floor and then at her. "What happened?"
"My water just broke. Oh, ow, ow, ow, ow." She mumbles, closing her eyes as she clinches her fists while he stands there staring. After a few minutes, she relaxes. "J." She says but he's frozen. "Jeffrey." She says a little louder. He looks at her. "Can you go find Dr. Sedgwick's nurse and tell her that my water just broke?"
"Ummm, yeah sure." He says, after clearing his throat. She smiles as he back out of the room. Quickly turning, he looks both way and then finally spots the nurse at the other end. "Wait." He calls out, walking towards her as the nurse looks up. "My wife, she's… her water just..." He doesn't finish as the nurse changes directions and walks into Sam's room. She stops looks at the floor and then turns around. "Let me tell Dr. Sedgwick." She says, leaving the room with Sam sitting on the table, clearly having another contraction and Jeffrey standing just inside the door. "J." Sam says, looking at him.
He's by her side quickly. "It's okay, remember the classes and to breath." He says, taking her hand. Slowly breathing as they were taught during their Lamaze classes.
When Dr. Sedgwick finds out that Sam's water has broken, she immediately calls Labor and Delivery at Cedars, updating them on Sam's status and advising them to have a delivery room in place for her. When she comes back into Sam's room, she's not alone. She has a gurney and two nurses to help Sam onto it. "I've already called ahead." Dr. Sedgwick says, as Sam settles back. "They are prepping a birthing room for you. We'll hook you up to everything once we're over there and the anesthesiologist will be there to evaluate you for the epidural."
"She's that far along?" Jeffrey asks, looking at Dr. Sedgwick.
"With her water breaking it puts her in the second stage of labor or the active stage. Her contractions are going to become stronger and longer until she's fully dilated."
"How long will that take?" Jeffrey asks as the walk through the halls to the elevator.
"It depends on the woman J and whether she's had another baby vaginally. In my case, since this is my first child it might take a while." She says, reaching for his hand as they wheel her into the elevator. He looks at her and she can see the slight fear in his eyes. "This is all normal even if it's a little early for me to be in active labor." She says, rubbing gentle circles into his hand for a moment before she grips his hand tightly.
"Okay, breathe Beca." He says, following the breathing techniques they were taught. After a few minutes her grip relaxes. "How long was that one?" He asks, once she's relaxed again.
"Just about a minute, and it's been about five minutes since the last one. So I'm still in the early stages of active labor." She says, as Jeffrey looks at Dr. Sedgwick.
When the doors open to the labor and delivery floor, two orderly are waiting for them They pushes the bed out into the hallway, followed by Dr. Sedgwick and Jeffrey while the nurses return to Dr. Sedgwick's office. Jeffrey trails behind them while Dr. Sedgwick gives orders to the two nurses that meet them. When they reach Sam's room, Dr. Sedgwick turns to Jeffrey. "Can you give us a couple minutes, I want to examine Sam quickly and the nurses need room to get her setup?"
He looks at Sam and she nods. "Alright, I'll be right outside." He says, looking at her.
"Maybe you should update the family." Sam says, as they prepare to switch her from the gurney to her bed.
"I'll do that." He says with a smile.
He steps into the hallway, letting the door close behind him as the orderly's along with the nurses help transfer Sam to the other bed. The nurses immediately get to work hooking Sam up to the fetal monitor and the monitor used to monitor her contractions. Dr. Sedgwick comes over to examine her. She's dilated another centimeter since her water broke. When she's finished with the exam, she looks at Sam. "I would say you in active labor."
"This is too soon." Sam says quietly. Her voice is full of worry.
"You know the statics and you know that while it's a little early for you be in labor, your baby has a very high survival rate even at thirty five weeks."
"I know, but I'm worried about why I'm in labor. I mean there's no infection. And I don't have any of the other indicators of a high risk pregnancy, so why am I in labor."
"You know that there could be many factors that's caused the labor and it maybe something as simple as he's tired of being in there, either way your baby is ready to be born and we have everything we need to make sure he will be fine once he gets here. I'm going bring Jeffrey back in. The anesthesiologist will be in, in a few moments to discuss options for the epidural."
"Okay." Sam says, as Dr. Sedgwick nods. She leaves the room, letting Jeffrey back into the room.
"How are you doing?" He asks, walking over to her.
"I'm okay." She says, looking at him.
"You look worried." He says, lightly brushing her hair back.
"I'm..."
"Don't tell me you're fine. Is something wrong?" He asks, looking at the door slightly panicked.
"J, look at me." He looks at her. "I am fine and the baby's fine. Yes, I'm worried, actually it's not even worried. It's more that I'm puzzled as to why I'm in early labor when I've given none of the indicators that this would be a high risk pregnancy and I have no infection. But right now neither one of us is in danger, okay."
"Okay. I was able to get in touch with Ava and Megan. Reva, Cassie, and Richard are in meetings, so I left messages with their assistants. I'm sure once they get the message they will be on their way here, including Josh and Billy. Ava and Megan are on their way here now." He says, as she reaches for his hand, gripping it tightly as another contraction begins. He immediately falls into his role as her coach, breathing with her until she relaxes again.
"Same amount of time, but the contraction lasted longer." He says.
"I know." She says, as there is a small knock on the door. They both look up.
"I'm your anesthesiologist, I'm Dr. Martin Thomas." He says, holding out his hand, shaking first Jeffrey's and then Sam's. "I understand that you're interested in relieving some of the pain while you deliver. Is that correct?"
"Yes." Sam replies, as he nods.
"There are two different ways we can…."
"I'm actually a doctor myself." Sam says, as he nods again. "I only want to numb the pain, not knock it out completely. So I'm interested in a low dosage of medication."
"What is the difference?" Jeffrey asks, looking at Sam.
"He can give me a higher dosage but it will likely make it difficult for me to push the baby out when that time comes. With a lower dosage, the pain will still be numbed but when it's time to push I'll be able to feel my body's natural process and I'll be able to participate in the delivery. With the higher dosage it can make labor last longer as well."
"But you're going to hurt more now?"
"Not that much more, J and I'll be in labor for less time which will be better in the long run."
"Okay."
"Being that you're a doctor, I don't have to explain how the procedure is done, unless you want me to." Dr. Thomas says, looking at Jeffrey. Jeffrey shakes his head. Sam had explained that part to him. "Alright, well if you want to do this. I'll have my nurse come in and we will get you set up."
"Okay." Sam says, as he nods and then turns to leave.
"I don't think he likes me." Jeffrey says, as soon as the door closes behind him.
"J." She says, as he looks at her.
"You didn't see how he looked at me after you explained the differences in the dosages. When he was asking about explaining how the procedure is done." He says, as she looks at him and shakes her head. "Mark my words, I'm right." He says, as she laughs softly still shaking her head.
After Dr. Thomas comes back and administers the epidural, Sam is able to relax more. Jeffrey and Sam are talking about what they're going to do after the baby is born when a nurse comes in. "I'm sorry to interrupted, but there are visitors here for Mrs. O'Neill."
"That's probably Ava or Megan." Jeffrey says, looking at Sam.
"Can you go see them and if it's Megan can you bring her back." Sam asks, looking at him.
"Of course." He says, leaning in to kiss the top of her head.
"Thanks." She says, gently squeezing his hand before he leaves with the nurse.
Sam settles back into the bed, closing her eyes as she lightly rubs her stomach. "I know you seem to be a little impatient in there, but I won't be upset if you decided to stay for a little longer."
"I don't think that's an option now." Megan says, as Sam turns her head. She holds her hand out and Megan walks quickly to her side. "You're both going to be okay." Megan says, taking Sam's hand.
"He's early Meg."
"But he's not that early." Megan says, gently caressing her hair.
"There are so many things that can go wrong, even though he's only a few weeks early."
"Sam, look at me." Sam looks at her. "He's going to be fine, which I'm sure Jeffrey and Dr. Sedgwick has told you. But even if there are problems you have a man that's going to stand beside you every step of the way. That's what you're afraid of most, right. That he'll do what Daddy did to Momma."
"She..."
"I know, she miscarried after I was born and Daddy blamed her for it."
"It wasn't her fault."
"We both know that. Hell he knew that. But Jeffrey isn't Daddy. He's not going to leave you if something happens."
"I didn't think you believed in him." Sam teases her.
"Hey, I've mellowed. How are the contractions?"
"I'm okay. They put the epidural in about twenty minutes before you come. It's a lower dose so that when it's time I'll be able to push. Right now all I really feel is pressure when they come."
"Good."
"Where is Jeffrey?"
"Ava came in as he was telling me where to go so he stayed back to talk to her." Megan says, settling into the chair that Jeffrey had pulled up by her bed. "Are you ready for this?"
"I don't think I have that much of a choice."
"Sam."
She smiles. "Yes, I'm ready. I want to be the mother of his children. How are things going with Frank?"
"It's progressing."
"Is that good or bad?" Sam asks as the door opens and Jeffrey walks in.
"Is what good or bad?" He asks, walking over to the bed. Megan moves to get up and he waves her away.
"Megan and Frank." Sam says, as Megan blushes slightly.
"He's a good guy." Jeffrey says, looking at her.
"I know."
"How is Ava?"
"She's good. She wanted to come back here."
"No, she doesn't need to see what's going on."
"I know and I didn't think they would let her back here anyway."
"Probably not and she doesn't need to see this. It will only stress her about her own upcoming labor." Sam says, as Dr. Sedgwick comes in.
"Hello." She says, looking at Megan.
"Dr. Sedgwick this is my sister Megan."
"Hello." Megan says, as Dr. Sedgwick nods before she turns to Sam.
"I want to check your progress." Dr. Sedgwick says.
"Okay." Sam says, moving into position as Megan and Jeffrey move out of the way.
Dr. Sedgwick does a quick examination and then stands up. "You've dilated a few more centimeters but I think we're going to be here for a while."
"Thank you." Sam says, as Jeffrey and Megan nod.
"I'll be back to check you again in a couple hours." Dr. Sedgwick says as they all nod. She leaves.
Once she gone, Jeffrey settles back in chair beside Sam, taking her hand. "Megan, would you do me a favor?"
"Sure." She says, walking over to the bed.
"Can you go out to the waiting room and tell Ava what's going on? I want Jeffrey..."
"Don't say anymore, I wanted Patrick with me when I had the boys, remember. I'll go let her know what's going on." She says, squeezing her arm.
"Thank you." Sam replies before she turns to go.
A couple hours pass and Dr. Sedgwick comes back. Sam let's her check. When Dr. Sedgwick is finished, she says. "You're almost there. I'm going to get the team ready. If the urge comes to push I need you to focus on something else, okay." Sam nods before Dr. Sedgwick leaves. Megan comes in as Dr. Sedgwick is leaving.
"Is everything okay?" She asks.
"It's almost time for me to push." Sam says, holding onto Jeffrey's hand.
"You're at ten then?"
"No, but Dr. Sedgwick said I'm close. She's gone to get the delivery team ready. Could you go tell everyone?"
"Sure. Reva and Josh had just arrived when I came back. Cassie is here as well. She said that Richard will be here as soon as he's finished with City Hall." Megan says, as they both nod. "I'll go tell them it's almost time."
"Thank you Megan. I'll come and tell you when he's here." Jeffrey says, as she nods before she turns to go.
When the door closes, Sam looks at Jeffrey. "Are you ready to be a Daddy?"
"Most definitely yes."
"Good, because he's comin J." She says, as he leans in and kisses her. He feels her tense.
"Breathe Beca."
"I want to push." She mumbles, closing her eyes.
"Focus on your breathing." He says, brushing her hair back from her face. She shifts uncomfortably. "It's going to be okay." He says, as she closes her eyes.
A few moments later, the door opens. Two nurses walk in followed by Dr. Sedgwick with her hands in gloves, so she's obviously scrubbed up. Jeffrey moves out of the way as the nurses prepare the bed for delivery. Jeffrey sees Sam tense. "Just focus on me, on my voice Sam." He says, as Dr. Sedgwick gets into position.
"I need to push." Sam says, desperate to bear down.
"I know." He says, as he looks at Dr. Sedgwick.
"Sam, on your next contraction I want you to push as hard as you can. Jeffrey I need you behind her, supporting her." She says, as Jeffrey moves into position.
On the next contraction, Sam bears down as hard as she can. They repeat the process for the next thirty minutes. "Sam, he's almost here, okay. On the next contraction, push hard..."
"What do you think I've been doing?" Sam mutters, as Jeffrey gently strokes her back and softly kisses the side of her head.
"You're doing wonderful Beca." He mutters, as Dr. Sedgwick looks up and smiles.
"You are doing wonderful Sam. And he's almost here but I need you to give me one more good push, can you do that?" She asks, as Sam nods, tensing as the next contraction begins.
She bears down, gripping Jeffrey's hand while she groans. The moment the baby's head is clear the nurse suctions his mouth and nose and the room fills with loud cries of a very unhappy baby boy. With two more contractions he's free of Sam and the nurse lays him on Sam stomach. Releasing Jeffrey's hand, she reaches for him. She's crying hard. "J, look he's…."
"I know, Beca." He says, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Mr. O'Neill, would you like to cut the cord?" The nurse asks. Jeffrey looks at Sam and she nods. Slowly he walks over to the nurse and takes the scissors. "Okay, just cut between the clamps." She says, as Jeffrey looks at her and then reaches out. With that cut, his son is free of his mother. There are tears in his eyes as he looks at Sam.
The nurse takes the baby and wraps him in a blanket before she places him in Sam's arms. "You have a beautiful baby boy, Mrs. O'Neill." She says with a smile.
Sam looks down into the eyes of her baby boy. She quickly see the features he's inherited from his father and even some of her own, but it's beautiful mix of them. "Hi." She whispers. She leans in and lightly kisses the top of his head. "I love you so much." She mumbles, holding him as she looks up into Jeffrey's eyes.
He leans in and kisses her. "I love both of you." He mumbles, leaning his forehead against hers.
"We love you." She mumbles back. "He's…." He feels her tense.
"What's wrong?" He asks, pulling away.
"It's another contraction." Sam says, looking at him.
"What do you mean, another contraction?" Jeffrey asks. First looking at Sam and then to Dr. Sedgwick. "Doctor, what's going…?"
"It's just my body expelling the placenta." Sam says, taking Jeffrey's hand.
"I don't think we're quite finished." Dr. Sedgwick says. "Sam on the next contraction, I need you to push again." She says, moving into place as the nurse takes the baby from Sam's arms.
"What do you mean push again? It's just the…." Sam says, watching the nurse move her baby boy to the small bassinet across the room.
"Sam, that contraction was too strong for it to simply be expelling the placenta." Dr. Sedgwick says, drawing her and Jeffrey's attention back to her.
"What are you saying?" Sam asks, feeling the beginning of another contraction.
"Give me a good push." Dr. Sedgwick says, looking at the monitor beside Sam's bed. Jeffrey jumps to place, helping her push for a count of ten. "Okay, you can relax."
"Doctor, what's going on." Jeffrey asks.
"I think I've figured out why you went into early labor and actually it's not that early considering." Dr. Sedgwick says, as she looks at Sam.
"Oh my… really!" Sam says, looking at Dr. Sedgwick.
"Would someone please tell me what…?" He stops talking as Sam reaches for his hand again, bearing down.
"That was good." Dr. Sedgwick says, as Sam relaxes again.
"Okay, someone please tell me what's going on?" Jeffrey asks, as Sam chuckles and he glares at her.
"It's okay J. We're having twins." Sam says, smiling at him.
"Wait, what!"
"Twins, J. A second baby."
"Wait, how. There was only one baby every time we had a ultrasound done. I don't…." Sam interrupts him again, reaching for his hand and bearing down.
A couple pushes later, the baby's head is clear. The nurse quickly suctions its mouth and nose and immediately the room is filled with a second round of cries from another unhappy baby boy. The process is repeated again, laying him on Sam's stomach while the nurse prepares the area for Jeffrey to cut the cord. When the baby's free, they wrap him in a blanket like his brother and then lays him in Sam's arms. A few moments later, the placenta comes and it's all over.