5sos Pregnancy Series

Ashton: Labor & Birth

HOUR 1 (her pov)
In the car ride up I took the contractions silently, like a professional. I would only cringed when we drove through the killer pot holes and bumps in the road. I'm actually proud of myself for how well I'm taking it so far. I gripped the handle above the car window, the one that must have been invented for women in labor. The wind blew onto my face through the open window, saving me. I closed my eyes and breathed it in. It was as if I was on my way to the first day of school. Just then Ashton pulled into the birthing center parking lot.
HOUR 5 (his pov)
I heard my phone ring. Mandy groaned as it woke her up from her five minute slumber. "Shhh go back to sleep" I whispered taking the phone call across the room near the window. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was her mother. "Hello?" I answered. "Hey Ashton, I was supposed to take Mandy to her 9:30 appointment but I see your car isn't in your driveway. I've tried calling Mandy but she didn't pick up. Are you with her? Where are you guys?" Her mother said into the phone with a hint of panic in her voice. I looked at the time, 9:20am. Shit. I forgot she was supposed to take Mandy to her 41 week appointment. Since she's a week overdue her doctor wanted to check to see if everything was ok with the baby's growth. I couldn't of gone with her because I had a management meeting that i couldn't miss this time- which reminds me I need to make a call... "Actually there's been a change of plans." I chuckled. "Mandy went into labor last night and were here at the birthing center." I looked over at Mandy who was gripping the bars on the bed having a contraction. "I'll be right there." She said then hung up. I walked back to Mandy's bedside. "Who was that?" She mumbled opening her eyes. "Your mom. She's on her way over. What to watch some tv?" She nodded and I handed her the remote. She turned it to some reality tv show that I can't stand. I groaned, "Not this." "When your nine months pregnant and in labor we can watch what you want." I didn't fight her on that.
HOUR 10 (her pov)
I hadn't imagined my mom with us, for any of this actually, but there she was and I wasn't going to ask her to leave. She was quiet, like a ghost-a nice ghost-hovering, but unobtrusive. When she came into my room a couple hours ago she said she had a dream we went to the hospital without her, implying she was worried about that. I took that to mean I shouldn't ask her to meet us later. It's not that my mom bothered me by being there so much as I was constantly evaluating whether she was bothering me by being there. I shut my eyes and clinched my teeth together as I felt a contraction build. I just want to fast forward to the part when my baby girl is in my arms. Im not sure how much longer i can take. Ashton gently squeezed my hand letting me know he's here for me.
HOUR 15 (his pov)
The dads should really get something. I'm here rubbing her back, singing Taylor Swift, and have fatigue. I should get some sort of care package for being the husband of the lady in labor. "Can we take a walk?" Mandy asked numbly. "Yes of course. Do you want your mother to come?" She shook her head "no". I helped her up off the yoga ball and held her hand as we left the room. As we were walking down the hallway there wasn't much activity happening. Just couple nurses and doctors passing by. There was one couple, baby in its mothers arms who were going to check out giving us a sympathetic look. I wish we were them. 'Soon' I thought. "Annnnd here we go." Mandy said crashed her head into my chest. She moaned as the pain rose then subsided. "You got this Mans." I encouraged. I'm so proud of her, like you wouldn't believe. I would be on the ground bawling by now. When we made it back around to her room she wanted to get in the water. Mandy's mom requested a nurse to fill the tub and one came walking in in less than a minute. When the tub was filled I helped undress Mandy. "It's like whale being lowered into a tub." She softly chuckled. "A reason not to give up: once the baby's out you won't feel like a whale!"
HOUR 17 (her pov)
The pain is almost becoming unbearable. "Owwwww" I moaned as I felt a contraction wrapping around my body. "Almost there Mans" Ashton whispered applying pressure to my lower back. The hot water did cool the pain a bit. There's no way I'm getting out any time soon. I would go from being calm one second to crying in pain the next. I told Ashton that I couldn't do this anymore and that I wanted pain medicine. A nurse checked my cervix and I was 8cm. Even in my state of irrational thoughts, hearing that I was 8cm and knowing that I was in transition brought me comfort. I knew this was supposed to be the hardest part of labor and that if there was going to be a point where I was going to question my ability to continue naturally, it would be this one. I suddenly felt the baby's head move down and had the immediate urge to push. "She's right there. I need to push." I told her. She checked me again and I had gone from 8cm to 10cm. No wonder I had a mini meltdown.
HOUR 18 (his pov)
Over the next 45 minutes Mandy moved around the tub in various positions pushing about every 1-2 minutes while her doctor checked the baby's heart rate with the portable doppler to make sure that she was doing okay. Mandy bore down again on the next contraction and pushed hard. I could see the tip of the head! Mandy panted loudly catching her breath. "You feel that? Thats the ring of fire. I know it burns but you have to push through it. Whenever you're ready take a deep breath and push again." One of the nurses said. "You can do it Amanda." her mother said. I almost forgot she was here with everything thats happening. I also felt a little awkward being the only guy in the room- that doesn't matter right now though. Mandy took a deep breath and began to push. "Argh-" she stopped pushing feeling the massive amount of pressure. "It hurts so bad Ashton. I cant do it anymore." She whined. "I know Mans but your almost there. You know I would take your place in a heartbeat if I could." I stroked her arm then added, "Your the reason our baby girl is almost in this world." Moments later she began to push again. The head was fully out. The doctor put her hand in the water to reach down to catch the baby. "No, don't touch me! It hurts!" Mandy snapped and the doctor removed her hand from the water. After moving into a reclined position, Mandy gave the final pushes, reached down, and pulled our daughter up out of the water. "Harley's here!!" I managed to shout without having any kind of rest for the past 18 hours. I'm ready to start my lifetime of parenting-lord help this child.

Harley Anne Irwin was born at 11pm on June 3rd