Chapter Six: Arrival (Warning: Graphic chapter)
Mildred had made sure that Constance was sitting down so that she didn't get hurt. She turned to Maud.
"Maud, keep an eye on the clock, will you?" She asked.
"Of course, Millie." Maud told her friend. She automatically was up, watching the clock.
"Aunt Constance…look at me ." Mildred told Constance. "Is it the baby?" Mildred was supposed to call her Miss Hardbroom during school hours, but this was an emergency.
"Yes…I'm in the 34th week of pregnancy. It's six weeks early." Constance said and cried out suddenly, grabbing Mildred's hand. She'd dismissed that Midred had called her Aunt Constance during school hours, regarding the circumstances.
"It's okay, it's okay. Breathe…" Mildred coached.
"Millie…" Constance was unable to hide the fear in her voice. "I'm afraid."
"I know you are. But we're right here with you." Mildred replied, gazing directly in her Aunt's eyes.
The contraction soon passed
Amelia rushed down the corridor and to the Potions Lab, She looked a bit disheveled.
"Constance, is it time?" She asked.
"Yes. But it is too soon." Constance replied, trying to keep her composure.
"Contractions are not very close together." said Maud.
"Thank you, Maud. Constance…can you stand?" Amelia asked her colleague.
"I think so…" Said Constance as Mildred and Enid helped her to her feet.
"Let's get you to your room…" Said Amelia. "Dr. LeCoeur's on her way."
Mildred held Constance's hand as Amelia stood supporting her Deputy, Maud, Enid and Ethel followed behind in case she wavered. They arrived at Constance's room and Amelia helped Constance into bed.
"You may go to your next class, girls. Mildred, stay with your Aunt." Amelia told the girls. "If Miss Hardbroom wishes for any of you to be here later on, I will fetch you."
"M-Maud should be here t-to let the d-doctor kn-know about the contractions." Said Constance, shuddering a bit.
"the contractions are still far apart…" Said, Maud, now looking at the clock in the room.
Five minutes later, Constance stiffened in another contraction.
"Ten minutes apart, but I can't be sure until the next one." Maud told Amelia.
Dr. LeCoeur arrived and checked Constance. "Two centimeters." She announced. "Dilation isn't happening very fast. This being your first baby, it could last twenty-four hours or more."
A few hours passed and the contractions were starting to come closer together. Mildred was coaching Constance through Lamaze.
"Three minutes apart." Said Mildred, having taken over for Maud.
"Cervical dilation is at seven centimeters. Three more to go and Constance should be ready to start pushing." The doctor said. Constance's body shuddered with the force of the contractions.
"You're all right." Mildred soothed, stroking Constance's forehead. The Deputy Headmistress' protruding abdomen was tight and her forehead was beading with sweat. Amelia placed a cold cloth against her neck.
"The baby has no idea what is going on. For nine months, it has a cozy warm shelter. Then the fluid begins to drain. The baby is just as afraid as you are, Constance." Dr. LeCoeur explained. Constance bit her lip, trying to stifle a scream.
Three more hours passed and Constance was ready to push.
"At the start of the next contraction, I want you to push as though you are on the toilet, for lack of a better expression." Dr. LeCoeur instructed. Constance nodded, wiping the salty perspiration off of her forehead. She set her jaw and pushed, Mildred holding her hand the entire time.
Dr. LeCoeur guided the baby's head and instructed Constance to push again. Constance's body heaved with exertion.
"Mil, Amelia, would you like to see the head?" The doctor asked. Mildred and Amelia nodded. They went to the foot of the bed, and looked under the blanket.
"Good girl, Constance. This is absolutely amazing…" Amelia breathed in total awe.
"I knew you could do this…" Said Mildred.
The head was soon out.
"It looks just like you, Aunt Constance." Said Mildred.
"Are you certain, Mil?" Constance asked, a hopeful note tinged her voice.
"Yes, I'm certain." Replied Mildred.
"It's just one more push and you'll be a mother." Dr. LeCoeur told Constance.
Constance recited her Lamaze breathing and got ready to push for the last time. She pushed with even pressure and soon a cry was heard.
"It's a girl!" Dr. LeCoeur announced. "Name?" She smiled as she tended to the baby and Constance.
"Constance Nightstar Lynn Hardbroom, Star for short." Constance replied.
A look of concern came over the doctor as she weighed little Star.
"She's about four pounds…Low birth weight." She said, concerned. "She's having some trouble."
"What's wrong with my baby?" Asked Constance, frightened.
"She scared herself when she took her first breath.. She's having trouble with her sucking reflex and is exhausting herself." Said Dr. LeCoeur. "I'm sending you to the Hospital straight away." The doctor looked worried. She sent for an ambulance as she placed a tiny mask over the baby's mouth and nose. The ambulance soon arrived and sped away with Constance and the baby.