BBW ( Just republishing to hopefully finish it, there might be slight changes)

SAL & NANDI

As worried as I was about the baby and her, I still held her hand while whispering encouraging words to her while the doctor and nurses checked on her and the baby. If it was not for the fact that she was in pain and stressed about the health of our baby, I would not be standing here right now touching her so lovingly. Thirty minutes had passed since we arrived and there was not much happening except for Nan being in pain.

" We've been waiting for sometime now and they haven't said much. Maybe they should call in somebody more experienced."

The doctor could not yet explain why she spontaneously went into premature labour. They were awaiting results from bloods they had taken, checked the vitals and had the fetus on a heart monitor.

" Hope you're still comfy?"

The nurse spoke to Nan as she walked in towards the contraption they had around her abdomen. The nurse's face changed after she had checked on the strip from the baby heart monitor machine. Which she motioned for the doctor to look at.

" Doctor what's happening?"

Her gynecologist pulled me aside while the nurse's attended to her.

" Sal we need to rush them into theater.-"

" I thought you said you were going to stop the contractions to avoid preterm labour?"

" We were trying to but now your daughter seems to be in distress as her heart rate is declining. It's now below ninety beats per minute and to avoid any further complications we need to operate."

" What do you need me to do?"

" Sign this consent for her operation and be a supportive partner. The nurses will help you change into the proper attire."

The doctor walked away to get ready while I walked over to Nandi with a reassuring smile on my face. As hard as she tried to hide it, I could see the fear in her eyes.

" What did the doctor say, is our baby really in danger?"

" Yes but you'll both be fine. They're experienced with such emergencies. You just need to relax and let them get you ready for theater."

" You're coming with me right?"

If the situation was different, I would be happy she wanted me by her side but I knew that it was fear of the inevitable causing her dependency on me and as soon as the baby is out of the woods, she will not need me. Regardless I smiled and let the nurse get me ready. In not time she was on the operating table being cut open.

" Time!"

The doctor shouted and as the nurse replied our daughter was pulled out but unlike our son, she was not crying and blue. My stomach dropped but I tried to not alert Nandi.

" Is she out Sal?

" Yes."

" Why isn't she crying?"

She questioned, concerned.

" I'm sure she's fine babe-"

" Why isn't she crying?"

The monitors made a beeping sound and I noticed her vitals change.

" Bae calm down, the doctors are with her."

"  I know something is wrong, they haven't shown us her. Something's definitely wrong."

" Let's wait to hear from the paediatric with her."

Trying to comfort my wife while trying to convince myself everything would be fine was hard. As much as she wanted me to go check, I could not bring myself to do it. I felt weak.

" She just needs oxygen and warmth."

The anaesthesiologist tried to reassure us both. I finally got the strength to go check on her.

" Why isn't she moving?"

My daughter looked like there was no life in her. Thinking about when our son was born I could see huge differences.

" She's tired but as soon as we get her strength up she'll be active. It happens in premature complicated births. You can touch her if you want."

I tried to calm myself but my hand still trembled as I attempted to touch her.