Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 86: The Bright Spot ~

It felt strange to be home again, to arrive at their house again and that there was simply nothing to be afraid of, that they suddenly didn't have to be on their guard 24/7. Today was week 36, the big wait had begun. Since they didn't have to focus on anything else, they only had one priority: the baby. There was a big chance that the baby wouldn't stay in until the due date, but when will be the arrival day?

In the meantime, everything had been prepared, all the furniture had been put together, all the clothes had been washed and put away, all the loose baby items had found their place, so now it was really counting down the days. And to be honest, Beth herself was also quite done with it by now. Carrying their child around all day was becoming heavy, the poor sleep because she could no longer lie comfortably took its toll, the no longer being able to sleep on her stomach, the no longer being able to lie completely against Viv, the occasional cramp in her back or stomach that didn't progress to contractions, her patience was being tested considerably.

Viv hated seeing Beth like this, just when the whole trauma was over and they could finally start their mental rehabilitation again. But she knew that it was part of it, that this behavior of her wife was normal during these weeks of pregnancy. She watched her from the kitchen, aimlessly staring into space with a blanket over her, her hands resting on her baby bump. Viv picked up the cups of tea and took them to the couch, where she plopped down next to Beth.

She felt Beth's cheek touch her shoulder, slowly felt the weight of her head lean on her shoulder. 'What do you want to do today, liefje?'. A deep sigh left Beth's mouth. 'Pfff... I don't know. Something that will make this little boy or girl come out as soon as possible'. Viv placed her arm around Beth, her other hand found it's place next to Beth's on her bump. She felt a tear fall very lightly onto her T-shirt.

'Hmmm, if I could do that for you I would gladly do it, but unfortunately I don't think there's anything I can do about it lieverd. Just a little while longer and we will no longer be lying here with the two of us, but with a little one in our arms, liefje. You are doing fantastic'. Beth took her hand, started playing with Viv's wedding ring. 'I know, it's just... I'm feeling huge and just tired and I know that once the baby is here, I'll still be tired, but just being able to lie comfortably and stuff is something I'm really looking forward to'. Viv tightened her hold on Beth and slowly rubbed her arm and belly, the room became quiet, until Beth's snores were the only thing that could be heard.

And so the days slowly crept by, spent on the couch, Viv trying to support her as best she could in everything, doing all the household chores, helping Beth with everything, massaging her, helping her shower, dressing her, talking to the baby to cheer her up. But no sign of the baby, all the times that Beth had felt cramps resulted in nothing, nothing that persisted.

Until week 37, to be exact when she was 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant, on May 27th. Again it was a night with occasional cramps, every time she hoped the cramps would continue she felt nothing anymore, again it was a night full of frustration, and all that while Viv was sleeping soundly on her stomach next to her.

Until the moment that a cramp suddenly led to much more pain, to a shooting pain in her back. 'Fucking hell'. Viv shot up and looked next to her, seeing Beth, who was lying there with her eyes tightly closed and her teeth clenched, pushing away the pain. 'Liefje, you okay?'. Deep sighs left Beth's mouth. 'I.... I.... Fuck.... I think our baby is ready to meet us Vivi'.

They had of course already planned with the doctor in London that the birth would take place under the supervision of the doctor who performed the IVF, because of all the terrible events during the pregnancy that had caused so much stress. But now that they lived in Whitby, much too far away from London, they had agreed that they would go for a birth in the hospital near Whitby, where the doctor would be called in and would supervise the situation.