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Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th November 2012

Characters: Y'gel, Briata, Vielta
Description: Briata goes into labour and has her baby.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 6

Y'gel

Briata

She had woken up from a nap with contractions. These are more than
just the practise contractions she'd been having for the last month or
so. They were harder, stronger. They were not, however, unbearable.
So, Briata went back to sleep. She woke up again an hour or so later,
then decided to head to the dining hall. The contractions were still
occuring as she shuffled down the hall. Yes, this was definitely
different. Food was in order.

He saw her as she came through the door. The tightness around her eyes
and lips told him something was up. Then there was the heel of her
hand pushing into her side. He watched her carefully as she crossed
the room toward the food. A half smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
Y'gel rose from his seat and approached the line. "Here, let me help
you," he said lifting the plate from her hands. "Tell me what you want
and I'll carry it for you."

"Stew. Bread. Tubers." There would be tubers in the stew, but the
mashed ones looked really good. Briata also knew she would need the
energy they provided. "Thank you." She smiled, but it faltered as
another contraction hit. She didn't make a sound but began to rock
from side to side. Movement helped her deal with the pain.

He put a heaping mound of the mashed tubers on her plate along with a
hunk of bread and grabbed a bowl of the stew to put on the tray. Then
he turned to ask what she wanted to drink and tell her to just go sit
down.

The tray plopped down on the counter and he leaned over her. A hand
reached out to her abdomen to find it as hard as a rock. "Briata," he
said softly. "You're in labor."

"Yes, I know." She smiled as the contraction faded. "Which is why I
came to get something to eat." It wasn't too bad yet. She could
still talk through the contractions though it was easier not to.
Briata lowered herself into a seat and reached for the bread. "I
thought it would be a good idea to eat while I still felt like
eating."

"But not too much or it will come back up." He didn't want to be
delicate about the fact that she was having a baby in the next few
candlemarks and all the contractions would effect the rest of her

body. "Have you told the healers yet?"

"No, they're not that close yet and I can still talk through them."
Briata didn't feel the need to involve the healers when there wasn't
much happening. "Would it be all right if I came to your weyr after
dinner?"

"Of course," he said with a forkful of tubers half way to his mouth.
That actually solve his problem with trying to talk her into going to
the infirmary. He figured she was still in denial about the
imminent birth of their baby.

They didn't finish dinner without two more contractions hitting her.
Briata paused in her eating and commented on their progress. He'd
probably heard it plenty of times before, but it was more for her than
just for him. She ate a decent amount of food, though not everything
that had been piled on her plate. Still, she heeded the warning not
to eat_too_
much. Getting sick was not something she really wanted
to do.

He watched each time she had an obvious contraction. He was on edge
though he tried not to show it. "Do you want to lay down or anything,"
he asked after she finally seemed to slow down.

"Probalbly for a little while." Briata wasn't sure how long she'd
want to lie down. When the contractions hit her, lying down didn't
really seem appealing, but perhaps she'd give it a try. "Shall we
head to your weyr?"

"Sure," he said and scooted his chair back. He rose to hold the back
of her chair and offered his hand if she needed it. At least with her
in his weyr he could watch over her for whatever time it took.
**Please let my assistant know Briata is in labor** His mustache
twitched knowing she'd hear the dragons talking.

She did indeed, and Briata glanced over at Y'gel. Of course he would

have said something and a small smile flitted over her lips. He seemed
more nervous than she was. She wasn't nervous at all...just focused.
Briata took his hand even though she didn't really need it and let him
lead her through the halls. The way she walked changed when a
contraction hit, but it wasn't until they stepped through the door to
his weyr that one was so painful she had to stop and lean against him.
She continued to move her hips and moaned softly, both actions
somehow helping her to deal with the pain.

He supported her as she got herself through the contraction. "Bri, we
need to get you to the healers."

"It's still early." Briata pointed out as she straightened then moved
over to the couch once the contraction had passed. "I'd really rather
not spend hours at the infirmary if I don't have to."

"I understand, but I want to call a healer to check you out." This was
her first time and would probably take longer but he wasn't so sure
she knew every thing that was happening with her own body. Besides,
better safe than sorry right? He made the call through his lifemate
before she could answer.

Briata didn't think it was necessary, but she also didn't argue the
point. She'd never had a child before, but she'd seen a few births
when she had lived at her father's hold - had even helped with a
couple, fetching water and helping the women cope with the pain. It
wasn't much, but it was something. She wasn't worried and couldn't
help but be amused at the anxiety she felt from Y'gel.

She lowered herself onto the couch then lay back. She needed to rest
while she could. Eventually, there would be no down time between
contractions and she wouldn't have the chance to rest.

Y'gel got an extra pillow from his bed and brought it out to her.
"Here," he said and lifted her legs to put it under her knees. "Do you
need anything else?"

"No, not really. Not yet." Only time and how her labour went would
tell. Briata tried to relax as best she could. A few moments later,
there was a knock at the door - which could only be the healer Y'gel
had called for.

Y'gel responded to the knock almost before it stopped. The door opened
and he smiled at the healer. "Briata's in labor," he said, even though
he knew the woman was probably fully aware. He shut the door after her
and turned back toward the couch. His brow twitched to see a brown
firelizard perched on his table, then he realized there were more and
more of them perched around his weyr. Their eyes were whirling as
they watched Briata though they weren't making any sound yet. "Looks
like maybe you're a little farther along than you though?"

Briata didn't answer for another contraction hit and this was one she
didn't feel like she could talk through - a sure sign she was
progressing. She sat up and moved to get on her hands and knees
beside the couch and began to rock back and forth. Jewel gave a
little chirp from where she was perched on the back of the couch and
watched her pet.

"I would say so." The middle aged woman eyed the younger and nodded
as the sounds coming from her were low and deep. "I hear some good
sounds coming. I'd like to check you." Briata nodded as the
contraction subsided and the healer began to make herself at home -
first, going to wash her hands.

Y'gel knew things were progressing and as Briata's contractions
strengthened and more flits arrived. He numbly followed the midwife,
"is there anything you need?"

"You can help her with pain coping techniques." The healer turned and
grinned. Y'gel wasn't a person healer, but even dragon healers could
do well with human patients. "I'll show you some techniques after I
check her."

Another contraction had come and the woman waited til it subsided
before she set about checking Briata. "Moving along well, about a
five and fully effaced. Not quite ready yet, but you're progressing."

Briata smiled and nodded, glad for a short break from the pain.

Y'gel nodded and followed the healer back to Briata. He knelt next to
her while the woman worked. "Thanks Vielta," he said stroking Briata's
hair with one hand. "I'll do whatever I can."

"Over here, when a contraction hits, press your palms into her and
up." Vielta indicated an area of her lower back and hips. "It won't
take the pain away, but it will help.

~~~
Y'gel had followed the woman's instructions and held Briata's hand or
rather gritted his teeth and smiled when she tried her best to crush
it. The time passed in a blur and then the baby coming and he almost
felt like he was going to burst with the anticipation. "You're doing
great Bree," he said leaning close to her head.

"I want to get into the water." The words were said with a gasp as
the contractions were almost on top of one another and it was
difficult to talk.

"Of course." The midwife didn't even ask the bronzerider if it was
all right, she merely helped Briata hobble across the weyr and to the
bathing chamber that contained a small pool for baths. Briata had
long ago given up on modesty - the pain was far too intense to allow
her to even think about it.

Y'gel would have carried her into the bathing chamber but chuckled
when he was completely ignored by the two women. He didn't protest the
use of his pool for the baby's birth as the water was continually
replenished. Water flowed in on one side and out on the other so the
fluids wouldn't matter in the long run. He did lean over at the head
of the pool and slid the cover partially over the hot water inlet.
That would keep the water warm but not hot.

When they got into the water, he shed his outer clothing and slipped
into the pool behind Briata. The bench in the pool was low and the
water deep. "Here," he said and sat in water up to his chin. "On my
lap." The midwife could stand and be just fine.

She didn't complain and Briata didn't protest. The water made an
immediate difference. It didn't take away the pain, but the intensity
was different - somehow, the water made the pain more bearable. The
midwife hung out at the edge and just watched and waited.

She had felt pressure for a while, but Briata realised that she felt
like pushing. When she voiced the sensation, the midwife laughed and
then said, "Well then, push! Listen to your body - it knows what to
do."

Y'gel murmured encouragement knowing they were getting closer. "You're
doing great," he said softly in her ear when she leaned back for a
moment between contractions.

Listen to her body. It was hard to do anything but listen to her body
as it screamed at her with every fiber of her being. A long, low
groan escaped as she followed her body's desire and began to push.

"That's it." Vielta encouraged softly. She hovered at the edge of
the pool, simply waiting. It wouldn't be long.

He held her and that was about all he could do. It made him feel a bit
helpless with her doing all this work but the next push felt
different. He didn't want to interrupt so didn't say anything but
looked intently at the midwife.

"There's the head!" The midwife announced. She just peered at the
two, didn't try to reach out or be involved. There were no problems,
so there was no need to interfere. "You're doing great Briata,
another push..."

Briata stopped making noise. Her mouth opened but nothing came out.
Her body heaved and burned and she simply let it wash over her.
"Catch your baby!" Vielta called cheerfully. A third push and she
felt a sudden relief. Her hands reached down and a tiny body filled
it. She brought the child out of the water and placed the babe upon
her chest. The midwife had grabbed a towel and began to briskly rub
the child, the skin pale. The baby's mouth open and out came a wee
cry, then a second that was stronger. Then, her voice returned and
Briata began to laugh.

Y'gel leaned to the side to try and get a look at the tiny noise
maker. He hugged Briata to him and kissed her. "I'm so proud of you
Bri, you were great!" But he couldn't hold it in any longer because he
hadn't even had a glimpse, the baby came so fast. "So, what is it?"

"A boy." The child's mouth opened and closed and Briata put the babe
to her breast. "Y'gel, we have a son."

Y'gel couldn't help it if his chest swelled a little with pride and
joy. "A son," he repeated and peaked over her shoulder at the tiny
wonder. His hand absently brushed a few tendrils of damp hair from her
neck. His eyes glowed at the midwife as he adjusted Bri on his lap to
allow her more clearance out of the water. The current was swirling
the blood stains away and through the outflow channel, replacing it
with fresh warm water. "Are you alright," he whispered in her ear.

}:He's very small:{ Aughasyth's 'voice' was tinged with humor and a
reflection of his riders joy.

**Of course he is, you great buffoon,** Y'gel chuckled. **So were you
when you were born.**

}:Not_that_ small!:{

Briata didn't say anything. She just laughed - and enjoyed the feel
of the child in her arms.

Last updated on the January 10th 2013

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