Chapter 29: A Special Delivery
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Bella was starting to get really uncomfortable, so Leah offered, "How bout you squat for me?"
Shaking her head, Bella sighed, "Gosh, Leah, this kid better get here soon. I'm getting worn out."
She got out of the water and hanging onto her husband's arm, squatted down. Bella stopped, and breathed out during another contraction.
Jacob lay on the floor and looked up under her to see if anything was happening.
"See anything you like?" she cracked.
Leah shrugged, but Jacob turned into a big red tomato. There was not much that would embarrass him, but he couldn't believe she said that.
This time, Leah was happy with the results, of her last ploy. Things started to take off quickly
The birth was getting very close, and Bella began to shake involuntarily. A very strong contraction was starting; she began to panic. Her eyes were wide, bewildered by the force of the contractions. She whimpered, "Jacob, I'm scared!"
He held her tightly, whispering words of encouragement. "I know, honey. I'm scared too, but it'll be okay. The baby's gonna be here, and you'll get to hold our love in your arms. It'll be over soon, I promise."
"Oh, oh—I can feel the baby coming. Jake!" Another rush hit her and at the peak of the contraction, she gave a guttural grunt. Her uterus was bearing down all on its own. She became very restless, moving about, unable to get comfortable. Bella gripped the edge of the tub, and then exhaled in a whimpering sigh. "I take it back, Jake. I don't think I can do this . . ." she shook her head in despair and closed her eyes. ". . . it's too hard. I can't."
Leah knelt beside Jacob. There was some blood and mucus swirling around Bella's legs, signaling that her cervix was almost completely dilated. She told Jacob, "That baby's coming, now, so you better get in the tub."
She turned her attention to the new mother. "Look at me, Bella; you're almost done, and you're doing so well. Now, I need you to stay focused. Don't hold back; you don't want that baby in there any longer than necessary. Let's do this. Now, I want you to squat. On the next contraction, if you feel the urge to push, go ahead and do it. But, just little pushes, to see how it feels. If it hurts, stop. If you really feel like you have to push, then bear down as hard and as long as you can."
Jacob got in, one leg at a time, as the water sloshed over the top. He got down on his knees in the warm water, then rocked back, resting on his heels.
"Jacob, I want you to watch for the head. When you see that it's out completely, sweep your finger around the baby's neck to check for the cord. If you feel it, let me know and I'll take care of it or let you know how to handle it. The baby should slide right out, after it turns. Whatever you do, don't tug or pull on the baby's head. You can put your hand under the head to support it if you'd like to."
He was a nervous wreck—his hands were trembling uncontrollably—but he kept it all inside for Bella's benefit.
She grunted and moaned as she pushed with all her might. It took quite a few good pushes to get any results. To Bella, it seemed like she was pushing forever. "I can't do this anymore, I'm so tired."
"Don't quit now, Bells. I know you can do this. You're almost done—just a few more pushes." He was hoping that baby would just get here already. It was worse than torture watching his sweetheart suffer like this.
One more contraction started. "Oh god," she cried. "Jake!"
During the next pain, as she continued to bear down, Jacob starting yelling in his excitement, "Bella, I can see a little bit of the head, keep pushing, honey!"
As more and more of the infant's head appeared, he noticed something lying above the baby's ear. What the . . .? Looking closer, he could finally make it out—it was a tiny fist.
Bella could feel herself tearing, but she couldn't stop now. With a few more pushes, and some painful cries, the head finally emerged.
Jacob followed Leah's instructions, and with shaking hands, carefully delivered his baby. He was holding the little bundle in his large hands, gazing in awe at the miracle before him. His eyes watered as he handed his first child to Bella.
"My gosh . . . it's a girl—it's a girl! Isn't she beautiful? God, I love you, Jacob." Bella sobbed as she held her baby girl to her breast.
Leah took the bulb syringe from the box on the floor and leaned over the lip of the tub. She motioned Bella to get closer, and when she did, Leah removed the remaining mucus from the baby's nose and mouth. While Jacob assisted his wife and newborn out of the tub, Leah grabbed two large towels, one to wrap around the baby, and the other to wrap around Bella. Once they were toweled off, Jacob helped his wife onto the bed and then pulled a blanket over the two of them. Bella was already shivering. Leah scribbled down the date on her notepad, September 24th, and the time of the birth, 8:33 P.M.
Leah observed the baby's skin color to make sure that she was getting enough oxygen from the placenta since the cord was still attached. She also made sure that the baby was breathing okay. Everything looked good; baby was pink, squirmy, very alert and breathing just fine.
"Keep them warm, Jacob. You better turn off this fan over the bed and put the little cap on her head. I'm going to get my supplies from the kitchen."
She left the little family alone for those few precious moments. Jacob kissed Bella tenderly and placed a few on the baby's tiny head before putting the cap on her. "Hi, Carlie," he whispered through his tears. "I've been waiting so long to meet you. I'm your daddy and that's your mommy holding you." His eyes turned away from the child for a brief moment and met the chocolate pools lovingly gazing back at him. His heart was just about to burst with joy.
Leah came back with one of Bella's cookie trays covered in a chux. The instruments were laid across it. She checked the cord to see if it was through pulsating. It was white and limp, ready to be detached. "Okay, daddy, are you ready to cut the cord?"
"Can I?" he asked, startled.
"It's your baby. You can do it if you want to."
"Sure, sure." Jacob frowned slightly. "It's not going to hurt her, is it?"
"Give me back that gold star. No, it's not gonna hurt the little gal. Now, go wash your hands."
Gloving herself, she handed him two umbilical clamps. "Put the first one about one and a half inches away from the baby's little belly there." She watched as Jacob placed the clamp. "That's good. Now the other goes—yeah, right about there."
"Just like attaching a radiator hose," he quipped.
Bella laughed. "I knew someday your automotive skills would come in handy."
"Here's the scissors; do the honors."
His grin was threatening to split his face in half as he cut the cord.
"Okay, I need to weigh and measure her, so hand her over, Jacob. What did you name her anyway, so I can put it on the birth record?"
"Carlie Star," they both said in unison.
Leah got out her portable scale and when she had finished, said, "Seven pounds and two ounces." Her measuring tape was used next. "Twenty one inches from head to foot."
Carlie began to wail. "Oh, little one, don't cry; here's your mommy." Placing her back in Bellas's arms, Leah proceeded to the next task at hand.
She helped Bella attach the baby's mouth to her breast. A few minutes later, Bella was complaining of afterbirth pains. Her uterus was clamping down.
Leah checked to see if the cord had lengthened letting her know that the placenta had detached from the wall of her uterus. It was, and there was some blood gushing onto the sheets.
"I know you're tickled pink and everything, but you still have work to do. With the next contraction, I need you to push that placenta down the canal And Jacob, hand me that flashlight, I want to make sure there are no tears." Suddenly, Leah reached out and grabbed a metal basin she had set on the bed to catch the slippery placenta.
Bella was tickled pink, she was also plum tired. "Do I have to?" she groaned.
Leah put her hands on her hips and replied. "No—you can keep it right where it is and let every cat and dog in La Push follow you around for a few days."
Needless to say, the placenta was delivered, Carlie got rubbed down with a baby blanket and clothed, and Jacob emptied and sanitized the tub.
Leah got the rest of her instruments out and after numbing the injured area, stitched up the tears caused by the baby's birth.
She narrowed her eyes at the new father and cautioned, "I don't want to find out that you've tried any funny stuff with this woman again until she is properly healed. Do you hear me, Jacob Black?"
Answering quickly, Jacob said, "I love her, Leah; you know I'd never do anything to hurt her."
"Good, then I won't have to chase you down and rip your throat out."
Leah gave them last minute instructions on how to care for the Carlie's umbilical cord, Bella's stitches, and some other general baby information. Then she said her goodbyes and left to get some rest for herself. She was pretty pooped too.
Thankfully, Emily brought a late dinner to them, so they could enjoy their first night as a family. Jacob called the news to each grandparent, but asked them to hold off their visits 'til the next day.
When they turned in for the night, Jacob held Bella in his arms, kissing her one more time. She fell asleep almost immediately; she was so exhausted. Jacob lay awake though, thinking about his new daughter. He was a daddy now, and heaven help anybody who tried to hurt his little girl.
He got out of bed, padded over to the bassinette and stood there just staring at this tiny miracle. He'd never been a father before, and he loved the feeling.