Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (24 page)

The contractions were coming quickly now and
I had never felt pain like this before. It was worse than any
imaginable pain or cramp. I started to go white in the face,
sweating, and contracting every few minutes with them lasting
longer and longer. My lower back burned with pain and I was trapped
on a wet garbage bag in CeCe’s tiny convertible.

“I promise we’ll be there in a minute.” CeCe
urged, looking very nervous.

“It hurts so bad!” I said, grimacing between
contractions.

“Just breathe—remember what Megan said.”

“I’m breathing but it feels like a
semi-truck is trying to come out of my vagina.”

“I’m sorry, we’re almost there I promise.
They can give you something when we get there.” CeCe said, mashing
on the gas pedal.

“Ahhh, I want an epidural.”

“I can see the hospital emergency sign.
We’re there, we’re there.” CeCe looked relieved as we pulled under
the ER awning.

“I’m feeling a lot of pressure all of a
sudden down there.”

“I’ll be right back; I’m getting you a
wheelchair. Don’t have that baby while I’m gone.”

“CeCe hurry, please.” I moaned.

“I’ll be back, don’t sneeze.” She giggled
nervously running towards the ER doors.

“So not funny Ce—hurry!”

Tears were streaming down my face and I
could barely breathe as another contraction struck across my belly,
causing a lot of pressure below. As I lay there, trying not to have
the baby in CeCe’s car, I heard someone calling my name from off in
a distance.

“Char, honey, we’re here. We’re coming.” I
heard my mother say as I looked up to see both of my parents
serious-faced, running across the parking lot. “Hold on baby; we’ll
be right there.” She said, again, just several feet away now.

“I got it, I got it!” I heard CeCe saying
running towards me with the wheelchair and a lady in green scrubs
close behind.

“What do you want us to do?” My mother asked
concerned.

“I’m in so much pain.” I cried.

“My name is Beth, I’m a nurse. I need you to
tell me how close your contractions are.” She said calmly.

“I don’t know, they just keep coming, from
one to the next.” I said bent forward, holding onto my
stomach.”

“She said she has a lot of pressure down
there and her water broke about 20 minutes ago.” CeCe said
anxiously.

“Okay, before we move you into the
wheelchair, I need to take a quick look.” Beth, the nurse said.

“Here, in the parking lot?”

“Yes, I need to see if the baby is
crowning.”

“Okay, dad can you turn around?” I asked
still writhing in pain.

“Yes honey.” He said tenderly.

“Okay, I’m going to pull down your pants. I
need your help. Stay with me.” Beth said, opening the car door.

“Ahhh, it really hurts.” I cried, “I need
something for the pain. It hurts so badly!”

“Okay, let me take a quick look and we’ll
get you going.”

“Can you do that inside?” My dad asked
quickly.

“I don’t want to chance having the baby pop
out on the way to the delivery room.” The nurse said bending down
to look.

“I need you to spread your legs as much as
possible.” She said in a calm and professional manner.

“I’m trying, it really hurts.” I said
sniffling and knuckling the middle console to help the pain
shooting throughout my body.

“Okay, you are crowning but I think we have
enough time to get you to the delivery room.”

“Mom, I forgot to call Megan. Can you please
call her? I want her there.” I said, crying.

“I called her before we left the house.
She’s on her way.”

“Thank you mom—it really hurts. Don’t leave
me please.” I said grabbing her hand as she and Beth helped me into
the wheelchair.

“I’ll be right there Char; I’m going to park
the car. Hold on sweetie, you’re almost done.” CeCe said as she
gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.

“Okay, hurry. I want you in there,
CeCe.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything!” CeCe
exclaimed as my mother pushed me towards the ER doors with my dad
beside me and Beth directing us.

Bright lights covered my face doubling me
over. I just wanted this baby out. It was so bright and I hurt all
over. I cried as I had no idea how I was going to actually push
this baby out. It hurt so much.”

“Okay, right in here.” Beth directed us
straight into one of the birthing rooms.

I looked over and caught a glimpse of my
father’s face. He looked worried—unlike any expression I had seen
before. He stood quietly in the corner holding onto our purses and
things as my mother and Beth helped me into the bathroom to change
into a hospital gown.

“Okay, things are going to get really busy
in a few minutes. You need to tell me who you want in the birthing
room. Everyone else can wait outside.” Beth said firmly.

“I want my mom and CeCe, my best friend.
She’ll be right back. Can I have an epidural—it really hurts—I need
something for the pain. I feel like my vagina’s going to
explode.”

“Honestly, you are past the point where you
can get an epidural. As soon as we get you on the bed you’re going
to need to start pushing.” Beth said.

I cried harder. I couldn’t take any more
pain.

“I can’t do it. I need something—it hurts.”
I sobbed.

“You’ll be great. This baby will be here in
the next 20 minutes or less.” Beth encouraged.

“Honey, you can do this. We’re here with
you.” My mother said.

“Okay, are you ready?” Beth asked. “Let’s
get you on the bed.

“There you are! Just the pregnant lady I was
looking for.” I heard Megan say jokingly as my mother pushed my
wheelchair into the delivery room.

“I’d laugh if I weren’t in so much pain.
You’ve got to get me something. It really, really hurts. I can’t
take the pain.” I moaned feeling immense pressure and pain
radiating throughout my abdomen and down to my feet.

There were now several people in the room
dressed in green scrubs setting stuff up rapidly. There was a large
bright light shining over the upright bed, covered with blue and
white chux pads, with stirrups. Over in the corner was a tiny clear
basket-like table, with a soft light beaming down.

“Let’s get this show on the road. That baby
is waiting to meet you. You can do this, trust me. You are strong
and able Char.” Megan said, looking me in the eye.

“Okay dad it’s time to have you go outside.
We’ll keep you posted.” Beth urged.

“Okay,” my father said obediently.

“Dad, wait—can you pray for me please?” I
asked wanting my father near enough to be the watchful, protective
father he had always been to keep me safe and assure me in times I
was scared.

“Sure honey.” He said, walking towards
me.

“Okay, as soon as you are done, it’s time to
push.” Megan said.

My father smiled, gently, at me. This was
the first time he had really looked at me or spoken to me in
months. “Dear heavenly father, thank you Lord for my Charlotte.
Thank you for giving her to me and for the light she shines in our
lives. Lord I pray that you would bring her daughter safely into
this world, that she may also continue to shine your light and that
you keep my baby daughter and Lucy safe from all harm. Lord give
her the strength now, we pray, and a healthy baby girl. Lord, we
also ask that you give peace and wisdom to those helping her bring
this new life into the world. We thank you Jesus and praise you for
your goodness and love.”

I opened my eyes, filled with tears and
squeezed my father’s hand as tight as I could. I saw the love in
his eyes that had seemed empty these last few months. He too had
tears in his eyes.

“I love you Char.” My father said as he
hugged me tightly, sniffling back tears. “You’ll do great honey.
I’ll be right outside.” He said as he released me and walked toward
the door, with his face shinning back at me.

“I love you too daddy.” I said crying.

“Okay, Lucy is crowning. That means I can
see her and she’s got a head full of hair.” Megan said smiling.

Just then the door opened and in came
another lady in blue scrubs with CeCe right behind her.

“I’m back sweetie. Thanks for waiting for
me.” CeCe giggled.

“Yea! This is Barb—do you remember her?
She’s one of the nurse midwives and she and I will be working with
you to deliver Lucy.” Megan said excitedly.

“Hi Char.” Barb said as she moved into
position beside Megan.

Another stronger contraction hit and I could
barely breathe. My mother stood by my left side while CeCe stood on
my right.

“Okay Char, I want you to take a deep breath
in after this contraction and then I want you to give me a nice
steady, strong push as you exhale out during your next contraction.
You let us know when you’re ready.” Barb said confidently.

“Ahhh!” I screamed as I inhaled in feeling
the next contraction hit.

“Okay, give me a nice push.” Barb
directed.

“Ughh….ahh.” I screamed again, “it
hurts!”

“You’re doing great.” Megan encouraged.

“You’re doing wonderful.” My mother said
holding my leg.

“I want her out! It really hurts.”

“Give me another push when you’re ready.”
Barb said.

“Char, where’s it hurting the most?” Megan
asked.

“It hurts all over; but my back is the worst
and my vagina feels like it’s on fire.”

“Okay, do you trust me?” She asked

“Yeah, just get this baby out.”

“Okay, she’s ready to come but it looks like
she might be stuck on your pelvic bones.” Barb said.

“What does that mean? I don’t want a
C-section.” I cried, feeling another contraction taking over my
body.

“Char, we’re going to try another position.
It should help the baby come out easier. We will not do a C-section
unless you have to but you can do this.” Barb instructed.

“Do you want her to get on all fours?” Megan
asked, looking at Barb.

“I think that would be a good start.”

“Char, do you remember the momma elephant
stretch we practiced in class?” Megan asked.

“I do.” CeCe said anxiously.

“Yes, will that get her out—I want her out!
I can’t do this.”

“Yes, it should help. Slowly cross over your
left knee over the right to turn to your side so we can help get
you into position.” Megan said.

“The gravity in this position can make a
baby quickly slide out and we want to be ready to catch her.” Barb
said.

“Okay, please hurry though.”

“Okay, good job. Go ahead now and bring your
other leg around and push onto your knees.” Megan said.

I felt a small sense of relief as I got into
position. The pain lifted, slightly, from my back and I felt her
even lower in my crotch.

“Oh this is perfect, her head is much lower
now. Does this feel better Char?” Megan asked.

“Yes, it feels better on my back.”

“Okay, we’re ready for you to push. Are you
ready to meet your daughter?” Megan asked happily from behind her
blue face mask.

“Yes,” I cried. The time had finally come
that I had been waiting months for. I was suddenly overcome with
emotion and could not control the tears from falling.

“Okay, push.” Barb instructed ready and
waiting to catch Lucy.

“Ahhh.” I screamed feeling fire from below
as I gripped the sides of the bed, sinking my head deeper into the
soft pillow.

“Oh my gosh—there’s her head!” CeCe
cried.

“You’re doing great. I want you to just
breathe now and not push.

“Is she almost out?” I asked when suddenly I
heard a tiny little cry rise up into the air.

“We are suctioning her mouth and nose
Char—you’re doing great. You’re almost done. When I say push again,
this will be it. I want you to give me one strong push to get her
out. As soon as she’s out, we will help to turn you over. We still
need to deliver your afterbirth, but we always strive to get baby
as close to mom as possible. So we will put her on your chest and
work on delivering the afterbirth right after, Okay? Are you
ready?” Megan asked.

“Yes, I just want her out now. It burns; it
really hurts!”

“Okay, push.”

With one final vigorous push, with my nails
dug into the pillow, I felt her slide out and a tremendous sense of
pressure and pain relieved. I could hear her crying. She sounded
pretty mad.

“Oh she’s so beautiful honey.” My mother
cried as I turned around and saw this tiny little, loud human being
for the first time.

“Oh my goodness—look at all her hair! She’s
so cute Char!” CeCe elated.

As the other nurses in the room helped me to
turn around all the way, I sat up in bed. Megan moved towards me
with Lucy, still voicing her presence wrapped in a white, pink, and
blue newborn hospital blanket. She laid her on my chest with her
face starring up at mine. I felt tears begin to gush
uncontrollably. She was so tiny and so loud and all mine.

“I want you to rub her to help get her
circulation moving and keep her warm.” Megan said as she wiped the
blood and wetness off Lucy.”

“She looks like you Char—she has your nose.”
My mother said stroking Lucy’s hair.

“Awe, she’s got dimples just like us mom.” I
said, still teary, watching Lucy yawn.

“In just a minute, we will move her over to
the table in the corner so we can weigh her, do an Apgar test, and
keep her warm. We will return her as soon as she’s done and Barb
has delivered the afterbirth. It won’t take long.” Megan added.

“Okay.” I couldn’t believe she was here. For
months I felt her rearranging my insides and keeping me up at
night. I was so tired and sore but all I wanted to do was stare at
her. Her nose and lips were so little. As she squirmed in the
blanket I saw her tiny little neck and her deep dimples as she
yawned again.

“Are you going to be breastfeeding?” One of
the nurses asked as she came closer to me.