A few weeks later. At Andy's apartment.
"I looked it up, and apparently our baby's the size of a pepper." Andy says.
"Huh", I say, touching my stomach. "Definitely feels like something's stuck there." My morning sickness is getting better, but I still feel quite nauseous constantly. I find drinking lemonade helps quite a bit. I reach and drink from my glass. "Man, 18 weeks. Time is flying."
"Yeah," Andy hands me my dinner, "sure is."
"So I heard on the grapevine that your selling that super expensive mansion on the hills" Andy looks at me. "My dad"
"Course. No, it's really unexpected, so I'm excited." Andy flashes that child-like grin.
"I'm really proud of you. That's huge!"
"Thanks." I take my first bite of dinner and immediately feel a rippling inside.
"Woah. That was the baby. Andy," I rush to place his hand on my stomach. The baby kicks. "Ha. Did you feel that?"
"Oh wow." Andy moves his hand further down. "That's incredible. Feels so weird." He places his hand in top of mine and intertwines his fingers. I take another bite and the baby kicks more persistently. I laugh.
"Ok, so you don't like spicy food, we get it," I feel up and down my stomach. "This is the weirdest feeling ever." Andy glances at my stomach, then places his hand down, stroking.
"Almost feels like popcorn popping." He continues, moving gently. I'm right near his face and rest my nose on his. "Just makes it seem so much more real."
"Sure does."
8 weeks later.
I feel down my dress. I feel like a swollen baboon.
"You look hot." Andy walks in, winking.
"Seriously? I feel disgusting. 6 hours in the sun, serving drinks and I'm sweating like crazy."
"How's the monster?" I feel the baby wriggle inside of me.
"Energetic. Takes after its father." I climb into Andy's lap and he wraps his arms around me. We kiss. "Can you please take my shoes off for me? Thanks" He does, and we climb into bed. "How was work, babe?"
"Well, I sold that house I've been wanting to." Andy eyes twinkle.
"Really? Ah! That's amazing!" I squeal and hug Andy, trying to not them him know how anxious I feel about the future. I go on my side and feel the baby violently kick.
"One of these nights I'll actually have a decent night's sleep," I say and face him. I notice that his face seems off.
"Are you ok?"
"Hmm. Yeah."
"Really?", I stroke his face. "I've been focusing too much on myself, haven't I?"
"No. Besides, it's not just you. It's our child as well." Andy looks away. "I'm just tired, that's all." I stare at him.
"Are you sure?" I say, as I cuddle up against him. I pause for a few seconds. "Andy," I look straight into his eyes, "you're going to be an amazing dad." He looks into my eyes and I can see the fear in his face.
"What if I'm not though?"
"You're the kindest man I know. You're so calming, and sweet and goofy. I mean, there's no way of knowing till we get there, but we'll get through it together." I rub his arm and place it on my side. I bring him closer to me and kiss him.
"I love you Hales." He says, after a minute of kissing.
"Love you too," I say, continuing to kiss.
10 weeks later. Andy's apartment. Haley is now at 36 weeks.
"Ow!" I place my hand on the side on my rib cage.
"Haley?!" Andy asks, concerned, rushing to hold my side.
"It's fine. The baby's just kicking my rib cage." I take a shallow breath as I feel the punch. Exhausted, I hold onto the table.
"I'm sorry. Wish I could take your pain for you."
"It's ok," I grimace, and I suddenly feel extremely dizzy. Andy must have known, because he sits me down. I feel an intense, sharp pain, and it startles me.
"Owww!" I touch my stomach as the pain continues. I squeeze Andy's hand. I try to find the air. I lean towards the floor. I cough, struggling to breathe. I take a deep breath and look up at Andy. "I'm fine." I place my hand on my upper stomach and try to breathe. "Just hurts to breathe a bit." I face my head down, and try to focus. I can feel the baby move a little bit down, and it relieves my breathing. I breathe deeply. I look at Andy and smile. His still looks concerned.
"It's fine." I place his hand on my stomach so he can feel the baby. "See? The baby's lower now." Andy strokes my face and I hold his hand.
4 weeks later.
"Ow! Ok, that's definitely a contraction." I squeeze Andy's hand as the sudden, sharp pain hits my side. He's trying to be strong for me, but I can tell that he's just as scared. He moves my hair away from my face. It's getting harder and harder to breathe, as I hold my side. It feels like someone is pulling my body apart. My contractions are coming now every 5 minutes.
"Okay, we should go to the hospital." Andy says, grabbing my bag. I get up and walk to the door. Every step hurts, but I'm trying to go as fast as I can. I feel out of breath and lean down to get more air. "You ok, Haley?" Andy touches my side.
"Yep," I say unconvincing.
"Just a few more steps. That's it." Somehow I make it out of the door and towards the car. I walk like I'm walking in slow-motion as I hop into the car seat and put on my seatbelt. Andy turns on the ignition and we drive away.
"I'll text Mom to let her know. "I open up my phone and send her a text. Just then, I feel my whole body tense, and I feel like I'm being stabbed repeatedly. I close my eyes and lean forward. Andy holds out his hand, and I squeeze it for dear life. I try to focus on my breathing, but I feel sick. Andy doesn't say a word while I scream out, just strokes my hand. The pain is so intense I feel like I could vomit, and my hands start shaking from the adrenaline. After what feels like forever, the contraction eases. My cheeks feel wet and it's then that I realise that I was crying. I feel like I'm going to hyperventilate.
"Just breathe. That's all you have to do." Andy says gently as he wipes a tear away from my eye. He's being so strong for me. "We're almost there." We turn into the hospital and park. We get out and begin walking to the lift. My walking has slowed right down and I can feel the pressure with each step.
Somehow, we make it to the maternity ward, and the nurse lets me get dressed. Another contraction comes, this one worst than the last. I scream out, as every part of me feels like it's being stabbed. The pain is so intense that I vomit, coughing as I try to get through this stage. Andy's filling out paperwork and doesn't know this is happening. I collapse on the floor, seeing spots. The contraction then stops and I slowly make my way in the bed. My stomach feels so swollen and blistered and I lie my head down on the pillow. Andy comes in, sitting down and stroking me like my mom use to. I snuggle my head into him. He gets a tissue and wipes my face. I don't even want to imagine what I look like.
"I'm so proud of you. You're incredible", Andy quietly says to me. I don't even have the energy to smile. "Your family's waiting in the reception," Andy moves my hair drenched in sweat. Just then, Dr Oliver comes in.
"Hi Haley," she says reassuring me. "I'm just going to check how far along you are." She moves my legs and checks. "You're at 7 centimetres. Only 3 more to go." I'm so drained that I don't think I have enough energy to do that. She leaves, and it's just Andy and I again. The pain comes and this time I feel like I'm on fire. I grip Andy's hand and scream while crying. I feel like I'm going to burst a blood vessel. Andy places a hand behind my neck and holds me there. I'm crying so much, I start to hiccup and every breath gets in little air. It stops, and I collapse in the pillow. Andy gets a towel and wipes the sweat away from my arms and face.
"Thanks," I whisper, weakly. He smiles. Just then, another contraction comes and the pressure off my uterus is too much. I sob. My legs feel like they're burning. I cough as I try to settle my breathing. I try to close my eyes, but they won't shut. My hands start shaking again and Andy leans down. I hold his arm and bury my head into his chest. Finally, it stops. I hold my stomach, trying to breathe through my nose, and I look at Andy. He places his hand on mine.
"Sorry," I say to Andy, as I see the debris of my snot and tears on his shirt.
"That's ok." He brings me some tissues. "Here." I wipe my nose. I grab his hand and kiss it.
"Well, at least we can tell the baby's got my stubbornness." I say, smiling genuinely for the first time in hours. I look at Andy. My adrenaline kicks in, and I feel the urge to pull him in close. He leans in and I kiss him. I move my hands down his face, and the kissing grows more intense.
"-Ow!" Another contraction hits me. "Sorry," I say as I break from the kiss. I close my eyes and squeeze his hand. The pressure from my uterus is overwhelming now and my lower back now is excruciatingly painful. I turn to my side and stare at the glass of water on the side table. I move my hands to my back. I cringe slightly from the pain on my back and close my eyes in agony. I have such little energy that I don't scream, but simply sob and shake in silence.
Dr Oliver comes in an hour later.
"Hi, how you going, Haley?" I smile weakly, barely having enough energy to talk. She checks how far along I am. "Ok, you're at 10 centimetres. The baby's in the correct position, so you'll have to start pushing."
"Ok," I whisper, looking nervously at Andy. He smiles confidently at me. A nurse comes in and it suddenly feels so real. My heart rate increases and I feel faint.
"Ok, Haley. I need you to push for me." Dr Oliver says. I feel so exhausted that I faintly try. After half an hour, I collapse on the pillow. "Haley, you need to push more. I know you're exhausted, but you have to." I lie my head down and tears fall down.
"Hales" Andy places his hand on my neck and strokes it. The warmth is so comforting. I look up at him and he winks. I smile back. "It's ok." I feel for his hand and slide my fingers into it. I close my eyes, and try to use all my strength. I yell.
"Good, Haley. Its head is coming out," Dr Oliver says. I focus on my breathing and reach up both hands for Andy. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and push. "That's it. A bit more." I can feel the baby making its way out and it's the strangest feeling. I hear a scream and know that it's out. "Well done, Haley. Congratulations, you have a little girl! Dad, do you want to cut the cord?" The doctor gestures towards Andy and he grabs the tool and cuts. He looks so overwhelmed but happy. I gasp for breath. They weigh the baby, clean her up and place her on me. I can't believe that happened. I hold her as Andy kisses my cheek.