First Time for Everything PT 2

Writers: Chelle, Eimi, Jelena
Date Posted: 9th April 2013

Characters: Parale, Parme, Ioven
Description: The baby arrives!
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Pt 2 of 2

Once Parme arrived, it still took quite some time for Parale's labor to
progress. Finally after about four candlemarks, the contractions started
to come very close together and things started to really move. She was in
pain and she was kneeling in the floor, with her face lying on the bed.
She didn't want to get into the bed until Parme said it was time. It was
easier for her to curl up against the pain this way.

Ioven knelt behind her, gently massaging her back and offering what
support he could. He was starting to get tired himself, though he would never
admit it openly. What right did he have to complain in such company?

As the contractions got closer and closer together and Parale's dilation
progressed, Parme put a hand on her friend's shoulder and gently told
her to get up and into the bed. "You're doing great, Parale, just a while
longer," she whispered encouragingly. "Ioven, can you help her up?"

Sighing, she tried to catch her breath. Parale tried to move and ended
up losing her balance. She was so tired. Falling back into Ioven, she
reached for him to brace herself. "I think...I need something to drink." She had
been sweating so it was highly likely she was becoming dehydrated. It
didn't help that the mountain girl still had a few adjustments to make
regarding the coastal heat and she was carrying extra weight for the moment.

"Should I go...?" Ioven asked, looking to the midwife. He wasn't sure if
water had already been prepared for them.

"You stay with your wife, Ioven," Parma said kindly, looking back at her
daughter who had already sped off to fetch some cool water for the laboring
woman. "Water is on its way Parale, now we'll help you get onto the
bed, alright?" She knelt down at one side, gently supporting Parale's side
and nodded at Ioven for his attention. "On three."

Allowing them to do whatever they needed, Parale's eyes closed as she
felt the contractions becoming more frequent. This baby was coming.
Once she got onto the bed and was made comfortable, she suffered the
ministrations of the midwife. It didn't take long before she was told to
start pushing. Grunting and crying out, she kept breathing and pushing,
mentally wishing this baby would just come so it could be over.

Ioven sat beside her, holding her hand and giving her whatever encouragement
he could. In between contractions, he held cool cloths to her forehead
and neck. "You're doing really well, Parale," he said as he took her hand
once more. "It won't be long now. Just a little more."

Parme guided Parale through her contractions, at times gentle, at times
firm, but calm and understanding throughout it all. So far the birth
was an 'ordinary' one and she thanked sweet Faranth for that. Parale had
been so afraid, she deserved a normal birth and healthy child. "We're
almost there, sweetheart, on the next contraction I want you to push as
hard as you possibly can."

"I am so tired. Why won't the baby come now?" Parale wailed but she bent
down and breathed in before scrunching her face up and groaning as loud
as she could. Pushing as she felt the contracting muscles, she pushed so
hard she almost forgot herself and passed out for a moment, but she breathed
again. "And it is so sharding hot! Ioven, pour some cool water on my
head-anything!"

He dipped the cold wash cloth back into the cold water and barely rung
it out before pressing it to the back of her neck. "It's just a little
more, Parale. The baby's well on its way out now."

"Can you see it Parme? What does it look like? Tell me you can see it."
Her tone was plaintive and it was clear she needed some reassurance that it
was still going okay and that there was indeed, a baby coming out.

"I see a healthy head of hair, Parale, just one more push, on the next
contraction and you'll have your baby," Parme encouraged her friend,
giving her daughter the near invisible signs to get the last bits of equipment
ready.

Sincerely hoping she had meant that statement, Parale got ready and then
pushed for all she was worth. Wincing and letting out a small moan, she
didn't stop, waiting to hear Parme tell her to. And then, the fears came back.
**What if the baby has too many fingers? What if it isn't breathing?**
Beginning to cry, the laboring mother just wanted it to be over.

Ioven couldn't help his curiosity as he craned his head, trying to get a
peek, but to no avail. He gave up the attempt and instead squeezed Parale's
hand. They would meet their baby soon enough if she just bared down and
gave one more good push. "It's almost here, now. You just have to give it one
more good push, and the head will be out. It will be easier from there.
So one more, Parale. Come on. Try one more time."

And as Parale gave her final push Parme gently guided the young child
into the world, taking her into her arms gently for its first breaths of air
as she nodded at her daughter to bring the equipment for cutting the cord.

She didn't hear anything even after she felt the pressure ease. There
was supposed to be crying, wasn't there? **Oh Faranth please don't let it be
stillborn. Please don't.** Her eyes searched, trying to see. There was
still the afterbirth to pass, but she was more concerned with whether or not
there was a baby.

Ioven wasn't nearly as worried, as he could see the baby moving its arms
and fighting for its first breath. He smiled when finally a loud howl
greeted them all, though whether it was from the son he had hoped for or
another daughter, he could not yet see.

"Congratulations, Parale, Ioven, you have a healthy looking baby girl!"
Parme smiled with the joy she always felt upon bringing a new life into
the world. "Ioven, would you do the honor of cutting the cord?"

Ioven had done so twice before, and was not at all squeamish or worried
about hurting the baby. He looked down at his new baby girl with curiosity,
but not the same awe as he had felt before. It just didn't seem as real
this time around. And _another_ girl...

"She looks very healthy and beautiful," he assured Parale as he moved to
help her sit up.

Once she had the baby in her arms, Parale was comforted. The little girl
was healthy and whole and there was no more cause to worry. Tired as she
was, she put a hand to that tiny forehead. "What shall we call her?"

"You have been waiting for this little girl for a long time," he said as
he settled in next to her, looking down into their daughter's tiny
face. "What name would you choose for her?"

Something about having him there next to her, physically near, and holding
the little girl he had given her-that they had made together-made Parale
soften and feel happiness that she couldn't deny. She had been considering it
for a long time and indeed just made up her mind. "I think she will be Parys."

Last updated on the April 11th 2013

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First Time for Everything PT 2