Lotto

32

Stevie's birthplan was plane and simple. No IV, she wanted to be able to move and an IV pole permitted her from moving. She was to give birth in the water unless an emergency arose and she had to be taken to the operating room. The only nurse/doctor interaction was to check her progress when necessary and if the nurse button was hit. She wanted it to be just her and Lindsey because the fact of the matter was, she was still terrified and Lindsey was the only thing that calmed her down. And she was laboring in her own pajamas not the stupid suffocating hospital gown, when she was in the pool and physically giving birth she was only going to be wearing her bra if that. 

Stevie was wearing a short silky piece of lingerie that she bought specifically for labor and delivery and she and Lindsey were swaying in the middle of the floor. She had her head pressed into his chest her arms holding him to her tightly and the way he was holding her allowed him to rub her back.

She was holding up well. Not screaming not complaining just moaning and groaning occasionally. 

"You're doing so good Angel." Lindsey coos kissing her head.

"OOOH, I want the pool." She groans.

"Alright, I'll go get your nurse." Lindsey nods going to pull away.

"No, no, after this contraction....OOOOOH MY GODD!" 

"Shh, you've got this baby deep breaths in and out." He coaches and she nods sucking in deep breaths. 

"That's my girl." He coos. 

When the contraction passes she pulls away and Lindsey kisses her before he makes his way out into the hall to retrieve a nurse. She then made her way onto her knees and leaned over the edge of the tub and she swayed her hips side to side. 

Lindsey came back seconds later with Stevie's nurse and a younger different nurse. "Stephanie it's shift change. This is Jenny she's going to be taking over for me." 

Stevie just nods.

"Alright, so Jenny this is Stephanie Buckingham, when last checked she was at about seven and a half centimeters. She was admitted at 4 and she was last checked at four on the dot, so you can check her now or you can wait another hour that's up to you. This is baby number two for the Buckingham's so labor is progressing faster this time. Her first labor and delivery was a little sketchy so she has special instructions." 

"Stephanie, can I check you?" Jenny inquires. Stevie just nods and spreads her legs a little bit wider because she wasn't daring to move.

"So are the special instructions because of health and complications?" Jenny looks at Lindsey.

"No, her last OBGYN wasn't the nicest person in the world. He wouldn't let her push out the placenta he kinda um...pounded on her stomach and she was bruised for a good two months, so we're just...we're a little weary this time around." Lindsey explains.

"I see, alright Stephanie a little pressure." 

"Oooh Lindsey." She holds her hand out.

"I'm here angel." He takes sitting on the edge of the tub and kissing her hand as she squeezes his. 

"Alright it looks like you're at nine and a half. I'd say we're going to be delivering a baby within the next two hours. Mr. Buckingham said you wanted the pool so we'll start getting everything set up alright." Jenny removes her hand and Stevie nods. 

Stevie labors in the pool for another thirty minutes before she looks up at Lindsey and he knows almost immediately so he goes and he presses the nurse button as he and Stevie get prepared to deliver a baby. Her birth plan says on her knees so that's what she does, she gets on her knees, Lindsey gets on his outside of the pool and he, luckily is wearing a short sleeve so one arm goes under Stevie's arm wrapping around her ribs and they interlock their other hands.

"I can't wait much longer Lindsey." She shakes her head.

"I know, they're coming." He nods kissing her temple. 

And almost on cue Jenny and Dr. Carlton walk into the room. 

"I was just coming to check you but we got paged here, are you ready to push?" Dr. Carlton asks laying her hand on Stevie's lower back and Stevie nods sucking in a breath her resolve crumbling as she screams.

"Alright Mama, do what your body tells you. You've done this before you've got this." Dr. Carlton positions herself to catch the baby when it comes out. 

And Stevie does she squeezes Lindsey's hand, her other one clutches at his shoulder and she pushes screaming into Lindsey neck. 

"I'm so proud Steph, you've got this." He coaches quietly into her ear kissing her temple. 

Stevie doesn't know how long she pushes for but she's finally given reprieve as the doctor calls out, "IT'S A GIRL AUGUST 9, 1982 12:02.45 in the morning." 

Stevie breaks free from Lindsey and she sits back on her haunches as the doctor pulls the baby to Stevie's chest. As Stevie pulls Luna up to kiss her head, she can feel the placenta pulling but she doesn't pay any mind to it as she cradles her little girl whose screaming at the top of her lungs close. 

Lindsey's laughing slightly, but he brings his hand up and slides his finger into Luna's little fist and then he leans over and kisses Stevie's head.

"You did it Angel." He smiles rubbing their noses together and then he does what she so longed for when Freya was born, he kisses her over Luna and Stevie's heart swells and she starts crying.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"I'm just so happy." She chuckles lightly.

"You did It your way baby and it wasn't that bad was it?" He asks.

"No, it was a lot nicer than the first time." She answers.

"So is a third in our cards?" He asks.

"I don't know...I don't know, we'll just see what happens." Stevie answers.

"Alright, are we ready to deliver the placenta Stevie?" Dr. Carlton questions.

"I..." She starts.

"You can hold her close, no one is going to touch you or her. Here' the Pitocin," She stabs her thigh causing Stevie to wince slightly. "Alright, now when you feel the contractions push, it'll be okay. I'm not going to touch your stomach." 

"Lindsey," Stevie looks at him.

"I'm right here Angel." He holds his hand out to her and she takes it the other still cradling Luna close and then she pushes only a couple of times before they see it fall into the water and mother and baby were officially separated.

"Alright Lindsey, wanna cut the cord?" 

"Yeah." Lindsey smiles taking the scissors and cutting where he's told.