Hope for All-chapter 35
When they got home, Tony made Angela head straight up to bed, something she truly didn't mind because she was exhausted after the class and seeing Mary go into labor. She still couldn't completely shake the worry that something could go wrong with the her pregnancy. True to his word, Tony spent a good deal of the afternoon cuddled up in bed with her, rubbing her feet, ankles and back. They both ended up falling asleep for a few hours. They woke up wrapped in each other's arms.
"That was a great nap Tony" said Angela as she stretched and rolled into Tony even more.
"Anytime I can fall asleep with you in my arms is a great sleep! Although, one of them kept kicking me! I swear Angela I don't know how you can sleep with how active they are!" laughed Tony as he rubbed her stomach.
"It's not easy! Most nights I feel like they are playing soccer with my bladder!" she laughed.
"Speaking of… nature is calling yet again!" she said as she managed to get herself off the bed and headed into the bathroom. When she came back to bed, she could tell by Tony's face that he was deep in thought and that it most likely was something serious.
"Tony… what's wrong?" asked Angela, concern in her voice.
"Oh it's nothing Angela…" he said unconvincingly.
"Tony… I'm not going to ask again… what's wrong?" she asked.
"Okay well today… when Mary went into labor… I froze. I didn't know what to do. I just stood there helpless. You… you knew exactly what to do! What happens when you go into labor and I freeze? Knowing my luck, you'll have to drive us to the hospital, calming me down on the way!" he said, self doubt and apprehension very present in his voice.
"Oh Tony that's not what's going to happen! Today was our first class… we still have three more to prepare both of us for when these two decide to come. No one was expecting Mary to go into labor today so the fact that everyone, not just you, didn't know what to do, was to be expected. You will not freeze when I go into labor Tony, I promise you that okay?" she said as she squeezed his hand.
"I guess so… I just want to be there for you Angela!" he said.
"And you will be Tony! We are a team remember? I won't be able to do it without you!" she laughed.
"Alright if you say so! Okay I need to get some stuff done around the house. Why don't you rest some more and I'll bring up some food? I will be downstairs if you need anything" he said as he kissed her before heading out the bedroom door.
"Your Daddy is the best daddy ever, even if he questions it from time to time. He would do anything for all of us… it's one of a million reasons I love him so much. Just do me a favor… when you two do decide to make your appearance, try to make it as close to your due date as possible okay? It scares Mommy to think of anything bad happening to either one of you" she said as she rubbed her stomach and laid back against the pillows.
The rest of the week went by relatively uneventful. The family helped to lessen the stress on Angela. She managed to cut back her work load and rested often throughout the day. She convinced Tony that she would be better off downstairs in the mornings to do some light work and then would go back upstairs to rest for the afternoon until the kids came home and it was dinner time. By the time Saturday morning rolled around, she felt noticeably more relaxed and surprisingly well rested.
"Morning everyone!" said Angela as she waddled into the kitchen and took a seat at the kitchen table.
"Morning mom!" said Jonathan as he continued eating his eggs and toast.
"Morning Angela. How are you feeling?" asked Samantha.
"Actually pretty good! Resting this week has made a big difference since these guys keep me up every few hours using the bathroom!" laughed Angela.
"Here you go Angela! Eat up… we need to leave for the second childbirth class in a half an hour!" said Tony as he put a huge plate of breakfast food in front of Angela.
"Tony! This is too much food! I'll never eat all of this!" she said as began to eat.
"Well you're eating for three and breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Eat up!" said Tony as he poured her a glass of orange juice.
"Tony? Where are the babies going to sit when they are old enough? There's only four seats at the table" said Jonathan.
"That's a good question! Angela I think it's time to upgrade this kitchen table! Plus a new car and turning my room into the nursery… we have a busy next couple of weeks! When we get home today, I think we should start making a list of everything we need!" said Tony.
"I think we can wait a bit on the kitchen table but the car and the nursery definitely need to be on the agenda and soon! Samantha, would you want to help me decorate the nursery?" asked Angela.
"Really? You'd want me to help? Sure I'd love to!" squealed Samantha.
"Just no MTV themes okay?" said Tony.
"I make no promises Dad! Thanks Angela!" she said as she got up and hugged Angela before heading into the living room.
"Well if she's helping you Angela… I think Jonathan should help us pick out the new car!" said Tony.
"Alright! I'm in! Can we test drive a Ferrari?" asked Jonathan.
"Nice try kid… station wagons or mini vans for this soon to be family of seven! I've been doing some research and I think I want us to look at the Plymouth Grand Voyager or the Dodge Caravan. I'm hoping we can test drive each and see which one we like the best. Jonathan, you and I can go tomorrow and check it out. Maybe test drive it by the house to show everyone else… sound good?" asked Tony.
"Sure! You think they'd let me take it for a spin… okay okay I know… no!" laughed Jonathan as he was met with two pairs of staring eyes. He put his plate in the sink and headed into the living room.
"Alright Angela! I'm going to pack us some snacks even though they had some food at the center. Anything you want?" asked Tony.
"I don't think I'll ever be hungry again after that breakfast! I think I'll be good until we get back but if you want maybe some fruit?" asked Angela as she stood to bring her plate to the sink. She was cut off by Tony who grabbed everything from her as soon as she stood up.
"Alright I'm going to finish getting ready and then we can go" she said as she waddled back into the living room, leaving Tony to finish up in the kitchen. A short while later, they were in the car and headed to the child birth class. They were greeted by Rose at the front desk.
"Hi Rose! How is Mary doing? Is the baby okay?" asked Angela with concern in her voice.
"Both mother and baby are doing well! The baby, Hannah, is in the NICU as expected, needing some extra TLC and help to breathe but she's a strong one! Four pounds seven ounces and seventeen inches long! Mary came home a few days ago and her husband is expected home in a few weeks, hopefully in time for baby Hannah to come home as well!" said Rose.
"I'm so happy they are doing well! Do you have a way for us to contact them? I'd like to send her a care package" said Angela.
"Of course! If you bring it here next class, I can deliver it to them. I've got some things to give them as well" said Rose.
"Thank you we will!" said Angela as she and Tony made their way over to the circle and took their seats. After a few minutes, Rose brought the group together to begin.
"Good morning everyone! Today we are going to go right into the miracle of childbirth- what normal childbirth is really like, the signs of early and active labor, pain medications and procedures for pain relief and then finally the first few hours of your baby's life as well as for you after giving birth" said Rose.
"We also have a video of a natural childbirth but we won't show that until the end of the last class. Alright let's get started!" said Rose as she passed out some pamphlets.
Rose proceeded to talk about some of the signs of pre labor and what to expect leading up to early labor. She talked about nesting and feeling as though the baby has dropped, often accompanied by an ability to breathe easier. She then talked about the first stage of labor and referenced the handout.
"In the first stage of early labor, you begin to feel persistent contractions that become stronger, more frequent and more regular as time passes. This is when you begin to dilate and efface to allow the baby to move down the birth canal. This is the longest of the stages of labor and can last for hours or even days" she said.
"Angela… days? Days? That can't be right! I can't even imagine you being in pain like that for days!" said Tony to Angela.
"So maybe we should hear from our seasoned parents Angela and Tony! Angela, how was your first labor and delivery?" asked Rose.
"Well with my son Jonathan, who is thirteen now, I was in labor for about fifteen hours or so. My water broke about six hours before he was born and I remember that's when it got really intense. It was just me there because Jonathan's father was out of the country. Not that he would have been much help if he was in the country! I can remember pushing for about forty five minutes, which felt much longer than that, when they said his heart rate was dropping and if it didn't come back up soon, they would need to do an emergency cesarean. I don't know what strength I had left as I was beyond exhausted, but after another three pushes he was here! He was absolutely perfect and healthy thankfully! It was the best moment of my life" she said as she wiped away some tears.
"Is that common for a baby's heart rate to drop when pushing?" asked a woman in the group.
"Yes that is a common occurrence in the transition stage for the baby's heart rate to drop but more often than not, it comes right back up when the contraction ends. If the baby becomes in distress, the doctors will have no choice but to do an emergency cesarean, which we will cover next week" said Rose.
The color in Tony's face drained when he heard Angela talk about Jonathan's birth. Surprisingly, they hadn't ever shared the stories of Jonathan and Samantha's births, which now seemed like something they should have discussed in private and not in front of a room full of people for the first time. All he could do was grab hold of her hand and give it a loving squeeze.
"So Tony, how about you?" said Rose.
"Well there's not a whole lot to tell. My wife at the time went into labor around two in the morning. She remained the one calm and in control, as usual, while I was a basket case. Her contractions were still far apart so we didn't go immediately to the hospital. By early morning, things had picked up and we decided to head to the hospital. I wasn't allowed in, but her mother went in with her, while I waited outside in the waiting room with her father. We didn't exactly see eye to eye, but the moment the nurse came out and told us my daughter was born, our dislike for one another stopped. I mean it came back soon afterwards, but in that moment all we could focus on was that my wife and now daughter were okay. I got to see them both a few hours later. Absolutely the best moment of my life" said Tony. Most of the women and even some of the men had tears in their eyes.
"So you've both had different experiences with childbirth. For both of you, while this isn't your first child, it will be your first experience in childbirth together with a partner. Traditionally, second labors go quicker than the first so it is important you know the signs for when labor becomes active labor. Okay everyone, let's take a quick break!" said Rose.
Tony helped Angela up as she headed with many of the other women to the restroom. When she came back, she and Tony went to stand by the window before the class resumed.
"I never knew that about Jonathan's birth. That must have been so scary Angela" said Tony as he rubbed a sore spot on her back.
"It was the most scared I'd ever been. I'm just thankful he was as healthy as he was" she said.
"I don't know what I will do if one of the babies ends up in distress but I know I can't think about that right now. I just need to focus on the here and now" said Tony.
"Exactly. No point in worrying about things we can't control. I would have loved to have seen you and Nick bonding together over Samantha! It's hard to picture, but it must have been so sweet to see! Marie must have been over the moon, even if it didn't last long!" laughed Angela.
"Yes she was- I think a part of her thought maybe we had turned a new leaf or something but Nick being Nick, that just wasn't the case!" he chuckled.
Rose called the couples back to the group and started again. She talked about the different things to do in early labor such as a shower, go for walks, change positions often and start the Lamaze breathing.
"In the next stage, the active labor stage, your contractions will become stronger, closer together and in regular intervals. This is when you will dilate from six to ten centimeters up until the baby is ready to be born. Your water may break at this stage if it hasn't already, and you will start to feel pressure in your back and pelvis. Some women report feeling nauseous at this stage as well. If you haven't already headed to the hospital, now is the time to head there as labor at this stage typically lasts four to eight hours but can be much less. This is the time for pain medication should you opt for it. You can refer to the handout about the pain medications as well as speak to your individual doctor about your options" said Rose.
"Okay fathers, this portion is for you! It's very important at this time to try and remain as calm as possible because things will only get more intense as the contractions get stronger and more frequent. Remember to stay hydrated yourselves and keep ice chips handy to keep her hydrated and cooled. Remember the breathing techniques and help her breathe through them. Massage is very helpful at this stage- focus on her lower back, legs and feet as she may be experiencing cramps. Help her to focus on her object and let her tell you what she needs" she said.
Tony was rapidly scribbling down notes and making his question list. Angela kept glancing over at him and had to smile. He was being his typical over the top self and it was still endearing. She reached over and grabbed his hand, giving him a knowing nod and smile.
"The last part of delivery is the transition stage. The well known term ring of fire is typically felt now as well as intense pressure and the urge to push will begin. Contractions are coming quickly and lasting over a minute long. Once the doctor assesses you are fully dilated and effaced, you will begin pushing. This stage lasts anywhere from a few minutes to hours, usually taking longer for first time mothers and when you've had pain medication" said Rose.
Most of the women and all of the men cringed as Rose continued to explain in details the transition phase up until the baby is born. The group let out audible sighs of relief when she started talking about the first few hours after the baby is born and the importance of both parents bonding with the baby. She wrapped up the session with a question and answer portion and as expected, Tony had his list prepared. Rose was very patient with Tony and answered his questions as well as some of the other questions from the group. By the time the group ended, Tony felt more confident in his abilities to be there for Angela.
Tony helped Angela into the car and then got into the driver's side door. He was about to start the car to head home, when Angela stopped him.
"Tony, I know we are planning on going straight home, but do you think it's possible to make a stop first? Since Samantha and I are going to start figuring out the nursery, I'd like to take a look at some of the baby things. There's a baby furniture store on the way as well as a few department stores that we could stop at quickly. Then I promise I will go home and spend the rest of the afternoon resting. Does that sound like a plan?" asked Angela, hoping she could convince Tony to make the stop.
"I think that can be arranged! Just not too long… we can always head back this week to finalize things and take Samantha too. I can't believe we only have twelve weeks left or maybe less until these little ones are here! It's getting so real now Angela! I can't wait!" he said as he placed his hands on her stomach, feeling the babies move around.
"I know Tony I can't believe it either! This class has really made it so real and I don't know if it's early nesting or what, but I really want to get started on the nursery as soon as possible!" she said as she placed her own hands on top of his.
"Alright Angela, let's go baby shopping!" he said excitedly as he pulled his hands back and put the car in gear.