A Miracle Starts With a Beat of a Heart

Chapter 12

"Okay, Daisy," Dr. Powers said, all set up and ready to go. "With the next contraction, I'm gonna want you to bear down and push. Think of it as curling up around yourself. Try to keep the push up for at least ten seconds. After that push, you can try pushing again if the contraction is still there. Usually, we can get in two to three good pushes in a single contraction. Between contractions, that's when I want you to rest and catch your breath. This way you don't have to overexert yourself. Got it?" Daisy nodded nervously. Dr. Powers smiled sympathetically. "You've got this, Daisy. In just a few minutes, your baby will be in your arms."

Daisy just continued to nod as she waited for the anticipated contraction to hit. Her teeth were chattering and her hands were shaking with the build-up of nervousness and adrenaline she had. May tightened her grip on Daisy's hands, ready to steady her former student any way she could. "You can do this," May whispered.

As expected, the contraction came in with full force. With it, Daisy bore down and pushed almost on an instinct. Throughout her labor, her powers shook the room around her slightly as every contraction tore through her body. Now, she finally had a way of channeling it, feeling like she had more power over her body. She did, however, feel the need to apologize every time she heard something shake and fall, but May and Dr. Powers said it was fine and to just focus on getting her baby out. 

And when the contraction ended, she rested just as instructed. It definitely helped to be hearing both May's and Dr. Power's encouraging words as she pushed. The first couple of pushes felt okay, but after a few more, it seemed to be turning into a more vicious cycle.

May felt like she was floating through the air; the whole situation felt so surreal to her. She never saw herself in this position, so to be here supporting the woman she viewed as her own daughter as she was having a baby felt totally unreal. It also wasn't exactly what she had expected. Sure, she figured the birthing process wouldn't be exactly how it's shown in TV shows or in movies, but it felt different. Almost calm. There was no screaming and shouting. Daisy hardly made many sounds when was pushing aside from the moans and low groans, but for the most part, she was quiet, focused on channeling her energy to bring her baby into the world. It was times like these that reminded May of why she admired Daisy and just how strong this girl the team found alone in a van all those years ago was.

Daisy's sense of time had practically disappeared as she pushed. She felt like she had been pushing for hours when in reality, it had only been maybe fifteen to twenty minutes at the most. Her energy was depleting, and the adrenaline she once had was almost nonexistent. Every sound in the room sounded clouded as if her head was placed underwater. She felt helpless. The only thing she could do was push when the contractions came, and they were coming fast and much more intense. Even if the two women with her in the room assured her that she was doing great, Daisy felt like she wasn't making any progress. Why wasn't her baby here yet? She just wanted all of it to be done.

"That's it," Dr. Powers said as she worked between her legs. "You're almost there, Daisy."

Once the contraction was done and she stopped pushing, Daisy fell against May's chest. She was exhausted. May placed a kiss against Daisy's head, trying to encourage her. "Come on, Dais," she said. "Can't give up now."

"I can't," Daisy said tiredly. Tears began to fall as she felt her body shutting down. "It's too hard. It all hurts so bad. I can't do this. It... It feels like nothing is happening. I just want her to be here already."

"Daisy, I promise you, you are making progress," Dr. Powers assured her. "I know it feels like you want to give up, but your baby is almost here." Daisy didn't answer her. Her tears continued to fall as she felt completely helpless. "Give me your hand."