Chapter 205

“Jon! Wake up!”

“Hhmmm..wha....”

“Its Dot. I think we have a problem. “

Jon sat up in a flash by the mentioning of Dot and problem in the same sentence.

“What’s wrong?”

“I woke up and went down stairs for some warm milk. I heard her in her bedroom. She has pains again.”

They heard the crunching of gravel and Jon jumped up, threw on his jeans and went downstairs.”

The doctor was busy with Dorothea by the time she same walking in.

“It is labour pains. I’m afraid we’ll have to admit her.  “

Realization dawned. Dorothea was not going to carry this baby to term.

Megan watched as the lights of the ambulance grew fainter until it disappeared. Jon didn’t want her to come with them.

She wouldn’t sleep a wink anyway! She sighed and turned towards the kitchen.

~~~

A week after the scare two couples were sitting comfortably on mattresses on the floor. The women were thoroughly amused and the men edgy.

Megan looked at her friend and her husband sitting so closely together. Dorothea was positively blooming and Jon somewhat uncomfortable with touching her in front of his wife.

He felt her eyes on him and looked up. She winked and puckered her lips in a kiss. His heart flipped at the small gesture and her obvious approval. Sarah began talking and his attention turned to her.

“So your partner is now in her second phase of labour. The active phase. During the active phase of labor, contractions become longer and more intense. Most contractions last as long as 45 seconds, and are three minutes apart. The cervix dilates from four to eight centimeters during this phase. If the bag of waters has not already broken I will most likely break them at this time. The contractions during this phase are much more painful than in the early phase, and this is where the breathing techniques, massage and or request for pain medications come in.”

“Breaking your water? Thank God he made me a man!” Richie whispered in her ear. Megan nudged his ribs as answer.

“Richie here has a question.” She managed in her sweetest voice.

“Fuck Meg! Uum...yeah how do you break it..the water I mean...”

The look Jon gave him was hilarious, Jon snorted when Richie’s erect middle finger caught his attention.

“Its a good question Richie, but when we watch the video you will be able to see how its done.”

By the mentioning of the videos the men grew quiet.

“Now as for the breathing and massage techniques...”

The next half an hour was spent on the subject.

Richie was holding Megan’s bump in his huge hands, stroking gently encouraging her to breath. Richie was taking his task very seriously and soon he was the accomplished birth partner to Megan’s greatest surprise.

Jon was soon engrossed in his task and Dorothea laughed at his serious face. The boys were really trying hard!

The guys were sweethearts and Sarah was soon enough so pleased that she decided it was time to tackle the dreaded videos.

“Now guys. I know you two are not too impressed with this, but see it for what it is, education. I know its graphic and you might even feel queasy but remember you are watching this but the women will have to go through this every step of the way. So the best you can do is watch it and be informed so that you can support your partner when  the time comes.

The caesarean was first.

“Ok now that chick has balls! There is no fucking way that I’ll lay there, knowing they are slicing me open! Uhuh...no way!”

Jon watched in awe as the baby was born, a little bloody but perfect.

By the time Sarah switched the taped, Richie’s colour had returned.

“You ok big guy?” Megan was still resting against his big frame.

“No..and I don’t think I will be soon.”

She rubbed his arm and giggled.

“You’ll survive.”

“I fucking hope so.”

“That wasn’t too bad now , was it Meg?? Dorothea enquired.

Looking over at them she felt a sudden  stab of..jealousy? She was leaning into Jon and Jon was cradling her frame. His legs were pulled up and his arms resting on his knees. It looked so....homely. Shaking the thoughts from her mind she smiled.

“Not at all! You still want a ceasarean?”

“I don’t have a choice if the little man decides to come early, but lets see your choice, maybe if all goes well, I’ll do a water birth too.”

Jon rolled his eyes.

“Women! Its not as if giving birth is difficult enough, nooooo you wanna take it a notch higher...”

“Oh shushhhhh you!”

The movie was long and oh so graphic. All you could hear was gasps and fucks  from the men as the poor woman started  walking her way up and down the room in the early stage of her labour. Her partner tried to help, but the hopeless look on his face made the men gulp. They could sympathise.

As she reached the active stage, she was whimpering and hanging onto her partner for dear life. She settled onto a bed for a quick exam and of cause the breaking of her water. Megan felt Richie’s face ducking into her neck. Too late the picture was etched in his mind forever.

Jon gasped and tried to look casual but his grey pallor was a dead giveaway.

“Ok now that was positively gross!!! “

“The best is yet to come..now look.”  Megan forced Richie face  up.

The woman settled into the birthing pool, her partner behind her steadying her as she floated upwards. She seemed to calm down and handle her contractions even better. Her eyes suddenly flew open. Her contractions were now even longer and faster.

“She had entered the transition stage now. Hers doesn’t last long.” Sarah informed.

Pain darkened the woman’s features and her painful gasps and pitiful  cries filled the room.

“Ohh shit I cant watch this! Its like watching live torture ! Cant they give her anything for God’s sake?!” Richie was as tight as a coiled snake.

“She opted for an all natural birth, no drugs.”

“Well she is fucking crazy!” Jon whispered his eyes fixed on the screen.

Just as the woman declared the need to push, she lifted up for the midwife to make sure all was safe. She was given the all clear and after an half an hour of pushing and moaning the water coloured pink and the dark head appeared and suddenly the baby was shot out and into the water.

“Oh God...this is graphic!!! Thats it !! No kids for me. Thank you very much!” Richie breathed so quickly she thought he might be hyperventilating.

“Its over. See...awwww look at that little thing...isnt he gorgeous.”

“Shit..no he is ugly!”

Both women gasped out loud, their eyes throwing spears at Jon.

“Whhhaattt? He is all wrinkly and full of...stuff.”

“See he thinks you are nasty too!” Dorothea took his hand from his knee and settled it on her bump.

“Sorry little guy. I wont say you are ugly, promise.”

He laughed in Dorothea’s eyes, caught Megan’s eyes on him and pulled his hand back. She turned as Richie spoke to her. Jon didn’t miss that moment  and it hit him straight in the gut.