Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Janice has an overnight bag over her shoulder as she rushes downstairs with her cell phone to her ear. She and I packed it together a couple weeks ago, so that we could be ready for this very moment.
"Mom and Dad, I'm taking Bella to the hospital. The baby's coming right now. We're going to be fine. I'll call you after everything is over," Janice says.
She shakes her head and then adds, “Sorry, can’t talk; yeah, I think everything is fine, we just need to go. Yes, I’ll keep you posted. I promise. Yes, I’ll call you from the hospital when we get there. Not after everything is over. I was just in a rush when I said that, okay? Okay. Thanks. I’ll let her know. Love you too. Bye.”
She hangs up the phone and grabs my arm and leads me into her car.
"My mom says that she and my dad know you’re going to do great and that they’re so happy for you and excited to meet the baby. She probably said some other stuff but that’s all I can remember.”
“Thanks,” I say with a laugh, but then another contraction hits me and I about double over.
“Just remember to breathe, okay?" she instructs me as we stop and wait for the pain to subside.
I think that’s a pretty funny thing for her to say, considering that she herself was winded when she delivered her mom’s message to me.
But I don’t say anything because I’m walking quickly to the car now, trying to get there before the next wave of labor hits me. She helps me into the passenger seat and then throws my bag in the backseat.
I hold onto the handle of the door and brace myself through another contraction as she gets in and starts driving away from the house as quickly as possible.
I had transferred my prenatal care to a clinic that works out of the hospital here once I found out I’d be staying here until the baby arrived. Although I’d liked Dr. Shirley and had wanted to do all my appointments with her, this new place has been just as good. So, I feel relatively confident that I’m in good hands, but I’m still a nervous wreck.
"Don't get a ticket or anything," I tell Janice as she's practically speeding through the small town to get to the hospital.
“Good point.”
She slows her speed down a little bit and we still make it to the hospital fairly quickly because nothing in this town is very far away. She parks outside the emergency room and grabs the bag and me, practically dragging us both inside.
"My friend's having a baby right now," she says to the nurse at the desk.
The nurse signals an orderly who brings a wheelchair. I sit down in it and start doing the breathing I’d practiced, holding my stomach. The nurse takes Janice and me upstairs to the Maternity Ward, where I'm immediately checked in by another nurse.
Then I’m taken to a room where Janice puts my bag down and helps me change into the hospital gown and helps me sit down on the bed. The doctor comes in right away to hook up my IV and everything before giving me another quick exam.
"Yep, you are ready to go," she says.
"Can my friend stay in the room with me the whole time?" I ask.
"Of course," the doctor replies.
She calls in some other nurses while Janice stands by me and holds my hand.
The doctors and nurses prep everything and then they leave for a bit. Janice calls her parents and lets them know everything is going smoothly. Then we watch some mindless TV that’s hard for me to concentrate on due to the pain I’m in.
Soon I know the baby is very close to arriving, by the fact that my contractions get closer and closer together. The labor lasts for not even a couple of hours and soon my daughter is born into the world.
After all the pushing and exertion from labor, my head falls back on the pillow. Janice wipes sweat from my brow. The nurses clean my daughter before wrapping her up and handing her to me. Then I’m finally able to hold her in my arms.
"Oh, my gosh, look at how beautiful and how little she is!" Janice exclaims.
She hugs both of us before saying, "You look tired, and you need some rest. I'm going to go call my parents to let them know she’s arrived, and I'll be back to check on you in a little bit.”
“Thank you so much,” I tell her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
The room is empty once she leaves, except for a nurse who is writing some information down and tracking my vital signs. I continue to hold my daughter in my arms.