Chapter 6

6 Months Later

 

 

I waddled into the birthing class, yes I said waddled. My center of gravity had definitely shifted as the little tyke inside me continued to grow. It gave me an excellent reason to eat at least two cupcakes every day but it didn’t help with the expanding situation. I had forgotten what my feet looked like. In four weeks, I’d have to find another excuse to eat so much. Did breastfeeding count?

I sat on the floor mat, watching the other expectant mothers gracefully walk in with their partners. I was still waiting for mine. How was it that I had two partners and still neither one could turn up on time?

Our situation was still tense but both Robert and Brady had worked on getting along. I was pretty certain they both hated me for putting them in that position. Yet I didn’t make the baby alone, I had help from one of them.

Finally, they showed up together. I bet that was a fun elevator ride. They settled on either side of me just as the midwife started her speech. It was our first class so I really wanted to pay attention.

I still had no idea what on earth I was doing. All I knew was that somehow this lump had to squeeze through a very small space and it was probably going to hurt like hell. As uncomfortable as it was, I wanted it to stay inside for as long as possible. Mama wasn’t ready to be a… mama yet.

The midwife introduced us and gave us the basics of how the classes were structured. We would learn how to look after our bundle of joy, some first aid skills for infants, and how to pop the thing out. I silently prayed for the tyke to stay inside long enough for me to get through all the classes. I needed all the help I could get.

During the break, they had some water and biscuits. My entourage and I lingered at the table and were quickly joined by the others in the group.

“Do you know what you’re having?” A perky blonde on my right said. Her bump was a cute little lump, unlike my giant spread.

“I’m hoping it’s a human,” I replied. I think my joke made her uncomfortable. “What about you?”

“We’re having a boy. My husband is thrilled.” She eyed Brady and Robert, trying to work out what was going on. “You’re lucky to have two birthing partners. They say it’s good to have a backup.”

“Yeah, a backup.” Ground, please open up and swallow me now.

“I had to beg my husband to come with me.” Another mom, a redhead that was possibly the only other woman bigger than me joined in the conversation. “How did you get two to come?”

I laughed nervously. “I, uh, they could both be the father.” When I panicked, I said whatever came to mind. Unfortunately, that meant the truth in that situation. Blondie and Red looked at me and then at them. I offered a smile but you could hear crickets chirping it was that awkwardly silent.

“Oh,” Red replied before excusing herself to go to the bathroom. Blondie did the same. I was pretty sure they didn’t need to pee.

The rest of the class was interminably long. I kept getting glances from the mom snobs with only one potential father. Four weeks, that’s all I needed to get through and then I’d know for sure. I could get back to a normal life without being constantly reminded what a terrible person I was.

After the class, Brady had to run to catch a gig. That left me with Robert who insisted we go for a nutritious snack at the nearby café.

“We have to talk about the living arrangements,” he started. Not that again.

“I told you, I’m staying in my apartment.”

“I will want to see the baby, I don’t want to have to travel downtown to do it.”

My feet were swollen, my boobs hurt, and my back ached. Talking about his desires at that stage wasn’t high on my priority list. “We’ll talk about it later, there’s still a month to go.”

“We have to prepare for these things now. When the baby comes, there will be no time. Newborns need a stable environment,” he insisted. “I’ve written a few notes down on things we’ll need to do.” Oh God, shoot me now, he pulled out his legal notebook.

If there was one thing this baby was going to need to have, it was patience. If Robert was its father, it was going to have to sit through a lot of planning meetings. Just like I had.

I tuned Robert out after hearing the top three of his concerns. When he started talking about enrolling in a good school to secure a place early, I switched off. He was probably already making college enquiries.

When the list was done, I was allowed to go home. Robert walked me to my door and left. Finally, some peace and quiet. I showered and went to bed, exhausted from the long day. Having a baby was practically a full time job.

I couldn’t settle all night. Finally, at two o’clock I couldn’t take it anymore and got up. My back was killing me, as were the Braxton Hicks that the doctor had warned me about. God, they hurt.

I shuffled across the bathroom floor, wondering where my hot water bottle was. Some heat might help the back pain, I at least had to try.

Then it happened. In one wet gush that started off as a drizzle, my waters broke. At first I thought I had wet myself but then the realization sunk in. This baby was coming and it was coming now.

“No, no, it’s too early,” I whispered, willing it to go away and come back later.

I hadn’t taken all the classes, I hadn’t learned how to give birth yet. The baby had to stay inside for another four weeks. It wasn’t time yet.

Plus, I had work tomorrow, I had to open the store. My maternity leave hadn’t kicked in yet. I needed all the hours I could get.

I raced for my phone, dialing Brady with a shaking hand. He answered after two rings and promised to come right over. The moment I hung up, I started packing a bag. I had no idea where my sudden calm came from, perhaps I was in denial about what was happening, but I changed and was ready by the door as Brady arrived.

“Do you need an ambulance?” he asked, his first question.

“No, we’ll just grab a cab. Babies take a while to come, that’s what the book said. I probably have hours to wait. Or it still could be a false alarm.” Why was I being so calm? I seriously didn’t know where my confidence was coming from.

Brady helped me down to the street and hailed a cab. He was doing enough panicking for the two of us. We were halfway to the hospital when I remembered Robert. I gave him a quick call and got his voicemail. I left a message for him to meet us at the hospital. He’d have plenty of time to get there for the main event.

The pain was unbearable, stabbing through me at intervals way too close together to be comfortable. I was quickly whisked through emergency and taken up to the maternity ward.

Brady helped me onto the bed as nurses hooked me and my belly up to all kinds of machines. A doctor hovered over me. “You’re fully dilated. This baby is coming now.”