[Angela]
I could not describe the pain. Everything was a blur of white and red. I squeezed Patrick's hand so tight I could hear his teeth grinding in pain. But what could I do? It was the only thing to stop myself from pushing.
"Okay, Mrs. Jane, you are doing really well. Now I need you to push! Push!" The nurse urged.
I sucked in a deep breath and pushed. I pushed until I thought my belly and lungs would explode. Still nothing happened. I continued. It was tiring. I had no idea how much time passed, but the pain was becoming numb and I was exhausted. Even my grip on Patrick's hand weakened.
So, so tired.
"I see the baby's head!" That brought me back. Acting on instinct, I pushed again. The agony ripped me apart, and I screamed. I did not know what I was doing. All I was doing was pushing, pushing, pushing. God, I was sick of pushing.
Suddenly the nurse told me to push. "I'm pushing!"I screamed. But the urgency in her voice frightened me. "What's happening to the baby?" Tears rolled down my sweaty cheeks. "What happened?!"
"Mrs. Jane, everything's going to be okay. Now we need you to push the baby out, okay? Push, honey!" God, why can't the nurse just tell me already?! "What happened?!" I yelled. My heart hammered twice as fast when I heard what was happening. The umbilical cord was wound around our daughter's head. If I don't get her out soon, she would suffocate.
With newfound strength, I pushed.
And 3 hours later, she was there, lying in my arms.
And then everything went black.