Bulma continued to visit her doctor regularly during the last four months of her pregnancy. To her dismay, Vegeta did not return nor did he send any word as to his well-being. Although it really didn't surprise her, she still harbored the slightest bit of hope that he would return.
Her belly grew significantly in what seemed like no time at all. At first, Bulma simply needed to wear stretchy pants to overcome her increase in size. By the seventh month, she was in full-blown maternity clothes and unable to get a good night's sleep. If it wasn't her growing stomach getting in her way, or the baby kicking her in just the wrong spot, then it was the constant need to get up and pee no matter what time the clock showed.
She was a trooper, handling everything by herself with the added support of her parents. She decided on a baby blue room with bright red accents for her son that was soon to come into the world. Her mom delightfully agreed to take on the job of buying all the amenities that the room would need including a crib, dresser, and changing table. By the time it was finished, the room was fit for a prince.
Bulma and Chi-Chi would often speak on the phone about the upcoming happy event. Bulma would sometimes falter in her ability to do this alone, but Chi-Chi would always explain how it was with a Saiyan as a significant other and how strong she would need to be if it were to work out in the long run. Bulma always felt re-energized and re-committed after her talks with Chi-Chi and the rest of the world never needed to know about her occasional doubts.
OlOlOlOlOlO
It was a chilly fall October day when it started. Bulma woke up at 5 AM with a tightness in her stomach. She had experienced Braxton-Hicks contractions – also called false labor – but these feelings were somehow different. Actually, when she first felt the discomfort, they weren't nearly as bad as her Braxton-Hicks usually were.
She shrugged off the slight unease and decided to go about her day as usual – just a little earlier than she usually did.
Bulma showed up to have breakfast with her parents at the usual time. She was helping her mom getting the food to the table just like any other day. When she reached into the refrigerator, she felt a slight stab to her abdomen. She immediately doubled over, OJ in hand, and stood that way for a few seconds until the sensation passed.
"Bulma, sweetie – are you alright?" asked Mrs. Brief.
"Y-yeah Mom. I've just been having this tight feeling in my stomach all morning and now, well, that one was a sharp pain," Bulma replied.
"You'd better keep an eye on it," said Dr. Brief. "It's about that time, isn't it?"
"I'm a week before my official due date," said Bulma. "But you're right Dad, it could be anytime."
The three Briefs sat down to have a hearty breakfast. Mrs. Brief noticed her daughter grimace every so often.
"I don't think you should be working today, honey," said Mrs. Brief after the meal was done. "Let's see if this develops into anything. Go to your room and rest. Watch some TV. Take a nap."
"Do you think this is it, Mom?" asked Bulma.
"It definitely could be," said Mrs. Brief. "Call your father and me if you notice any patterns forming, ok?"
"I hope this isn't it," said Bulma. "I was hoping Vegeta would be home before the baby was born."
"If he came home now, he'd be in for quite the surprise, wouldn't he," laughed Dr. Brief knowing full-well Vegeta had never been told he was going to be a father.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," remarked Bulma as she left the kitchen.
The next few hours went exactly as Mrs. Brief thought they would. Bulma wasn't too sure, but was quickly convinced when the pains she felt became more intense and surprisingly predictable. She laid down in her bed and watched TV and even took a warm bath two different times to try to alleviate some of the pain.
It was mid-afternoon when Bulma finally decided to call for her mother. Mrs. Brief had purposely kept close to her daughter's room and even silently checked in on her from time to time throughout the morning and early afternoon.
"Mom!" yelled Bulma. "Mom, are you there?"
Mrs. Brief stuck her blonde head into the bedroom doorway. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think it is time. I'm down to 6 minutes," said Bulma.
"I'll tell your Dad. Get your bag and let's go," said Mrs. Brief.
Bulma grabbed her tiny bag and headed for the car. She opened up her cell phone and dialed Dr. Olson on her way out to let her know what was going on and that she'd be at the hospital in less than 15 minutes.
Bulma checked in and was immediately sent to labor & delivery triage to be examined. A nurse checked her progress and asked her questions about what she had already endured at home and quickly surmised that it was time for her to be given a room in the delivery ward.
Bulma was shown to her room and she changed into hospital clothes. Her mother was there with her – Dr. Brief had decided that he would be more comfortable waiting in the family area. When Bulma was born, fathers in the delivery room just wasn't done and he wasn't about to start now with his daughter of all people.
Bulma had the fetal monitor hooked up as well as a monitor that would tell the doctors and nurses the strength, duration, and frequency of each contraction she had. Now all she had to do was wait it out and endure the pain.
Dr. Olson arrived in no time and performed another check on her patient.
"Bulma, looks like…..looks like you are about 4 cm and 90% effaced. I don't think it will take very long. You've progressed pretty far already."
"4 cm? Can I get an epidural then?" asked Bulma.
"Absolutely. I'll send for the anesthesiologist as soon as I leave," answered Dr. Olson.
The doctor made sure she was set up with everything she needed for the long haul ahead. The nurse on-duty was given her instructions.
"Just one last thing," said Dr. Olson. "I'm going to break your water."
"You're going to what?" asked Bulma.
"When women come to the hospital ready to have their baby, but their water hasn't ruptured yet, many times we'll rupture the membranes for them. It makes the process go much faster."
"Just please make sure that anesthesiologist is coming soon after you do it," said Bulma. "I can't take much more of this."
Dr. Olson laughed a little. "Ok, Bulma. It's a deal."
Bulma got her epidural and rested comfortably for the next several hours while her body did all the work. Her mother stayed by her bedside and could often be seen caressing her only daughter's blue hair while she sat there.
It was nearly midnight when Bulma woke up from a short nap. She had a puzzled look on her face and felt her protruding stomach.
"Is everything ok sweetie?' asked Mrs. Brief.
"I think so," answered Bulma. "I just have…"
Bulma leaned forward and grunted.
"What?" asked Mrs. Brief.
"…the urge to push," finished Bulma.
Just then the nurse walked in. "Did I hear you have the urge to push?"
Bulma nodded.
"Don't push yet," said the nurse. "Let me check you." The nurse stuck her hand up under the sheets that covered Bulma. "You are definitely ready. If you feel the urge, go ahead and push."
Bulma felt a relief wash over her. It was the hardest thing not being allowed to push when it was all your body wanted to do.
The next contraction hit and Bulma beared down and gave it her all. The nurse and her mother were right there guiding her and encouraging her. She got a total of two 10 second pushes in with each contraction she endured.
In about an hour, the nurse called for Dr. Olson to come into the room for the final stages of the delivery. She was dressed to the nines in scrubs and a facemask. She positioned herself between Bulma's legs, which were now firmly secured into stirrups.
"Ok Bulma, the head is definitely crowning. Give it your all when you feel the next one coming on," said Dr. Olson.
Bulma didn't even acknowledge that the doctor was, in fact, talking to her. She kind of nodded once in the affirmative, but by this time she was exhausted and just wanted the entire ordeal to be over.
The doctor looked over at her contraction plotter and saw that it was starting to go up again.
"Now push!" said the doctor.
Bulma squinched her eyes and grabbed the backs of her thighs and pushed hard. When the contaction ended, she let out a gigantic exhale and flopped back onto the bed.
"I think you only have a couple more to go," said Dr. Olson.
Bulma was re-energized by that last remark. I want to see my son NOW! She pushed yet again.
And then it happened. She felt a small pop. "The head's out," said the doctor. "One more small push…."
Bulma obliged and the next thing she knew, there was a small boy covered in ooze now adorning the top of her belly. The nurse immediately grabbed a towel and started to frantically rub the baby.
The doctor smiled at his patient. "It is most definitely a boy, Bulma. Congratulations."
Bulma started tearing up knowing that her son was now a part of the world.
"There's just one thing," said the doctor.
"What is it?" asked Bulma who could still look down and see her son's face as the towel continued to clean him off. The doctor stopped the nurse and opened up one side of the towel.
"This," is all she said, holding up a brown furry appendage.
Oh my God, he has a tail! I didn't even think of that!
"I don't know why we never saw this on the ultrasound," said the doctor. "But this boy has a tail. We can make arrangements to have it removed when we circumcise him if you'd like."
Vegeta does pretty well without a tail and none of the other Saiyans have a tail either. Oh, there's that full moon thing. It's probably safer without one because of that.
"That's a good idea," said Bulma. "Let's do that."