Chamberlain's Struggles

Chapter 16

Two more months went by like clockwork. Nothing else happened in that time other than the friends doing their chores.

Chamberlain's stomach was huge by now. He was very uncomfortable with the weight he felt inside him, but he was still happy to feel his child move. And with all the preparations that had been made for the baby's arrival, Sil was feeling ready to meet his little one.

Wyneth told Sil things that he needed to be prepared for and things she would need to do to ensure a safe delivery and when the baby was ready to come. If he prematurely tried to deliver his child before it was ready, it could have some complications for him or his baby.

Sil was a little uncomfortable with what Wyneth said she would have to do to ensure the baby was ready, but because she was his friend, he trusted her.

Byron knew he wouldn't want to be around through the labor, but he would welcome the baby with open arms when it was born.

Sil didn't do any chores now as it was so hard for him to bend over or get up if he sat down and needed to get up again. Wyneth said he could get up and walk around a bit during the day, but it was better now at this time to be off his feet a lot more. But when he did need to get up, he often had to pull on a vine that had been secured above his sleeping area. His belly made it nearly impossible to get up like he used to.

There was a spot for the baby right next to Sil's spot, though there was a spare just in case.

He was at his most restless now too. He was mostly on bed rest in the last days. It was often hard to breathe and hard to find a good sleeping position. And the practice contractions were quite a bit stronger as well. Because of these, Wyneth didn't want Sil doing anymore chores. The chances of labor any day now were too strong. He needed a lot of rest.

Sil hated being confined to his bed like this. He liked to be up and active. But the weight in his belly just prevented it, but he would sit up against the wall in the cave and watch what was going on. He hoped there wouldn't be any trouble while he was stuck in bed during this time. The main time he was only allowed up was relieving himself.

Chamberlain had made it to the 38 week mark. Everything in his body, and mind, was ready for the big event, now it just needed to happen.

One night, a big heavy storm blew in. Wyneth, Byron, and Sil all moved further back into the cave before bed to ensure they wouldn't get wet from the rain. They all tried to get a good night's sleep.

Halfway through the night, Chamberlain was awakened by a sharp, stabbing pain in his side and back. Then a tightening in his stomach happened too.

He had felt nauseated earlier in the day and just uncomfortable, but hadn't said anything. He had mistook it more for some pregnancy discomfort that he had felt for awhile.

"Oh! Owwww!" Sil said lowly, but the pain got stronger. Then he couldn't help that he screamed.

His scream awoke his friends. "What? What is it?" Byron asked.

Sil was doing the breathing he had been taught. It was so hard to breathe through this intense pain, but he did it. Then he released a big sigh when it ended.

"Big, sharp pain that just happened. Felt more painful than normal pains." Sil said.

"If that's how you describe it, Chamberlain, then I don't think that was a practice one. It might have been a real labor pain." Wyneth said.

More thunder and lightning flared outside.

"Are they all going to feel like that or get worse?" Sil asked.