WHEN DADDY LEFT

In a daze

Daniel's POV

Two hours later...

Y'vania is standing/leaning her hands on the bed rocking herself. She turns towards me, her eyes are bloodshot, her hair is in a total mess and she's still sweaty. My mum is rubbing her lower back which seems to bring a calming effect on her for about two minutes. When another contraction hits she tries getting back on the bed then stops and goes back to pacing the room. She's muttering something and I get closer and hold her hand mustering all the courage in me.

She is praying. Y'vania is praying. This must be tough.

"Danny call my mum. I can't do this anymore. Call the doctor, do anything, tell them to take this baby out."

"It's okay my love, we'll get through this. You are a strong woman."

She shakes her head, leaning against the wall breathing in and letting out the air in short breaths like how we were taught in the birth classes. She suddenly turns towards me and says,

"Promise me you won't leave this room. You'll stay with me when the baby is coming."

Whaaat? We didn't agree to that but okay.

"I promise babe. I'll be here for you. I love you Vani."

I love you- oh my goodness this is too haaaaard!"

She is gasping for air now and it's scary. I am about to run out but my mother holds my hand and gives me an assuring look. She is taking everything easy. She's not scared as the rest of us are, apart from Nisha who is surprisingly calm, my dad, Javier and I are so scared. I think women know that no matter what level of pain one goes through the objective is to have the baby. As long as the woman is healthy and safe, it doesn't matter if she rolls on the floor, or jump up and down in pain.

There are two nurses in the room who are helping her around and constantly checking her vitals.
Just then the two specialists come in and I am relieved but also very scared.

"Okay. It's time. We would like everyone to step out please. If you are not in labour or the father of the child, or a nurse kindly step out."

Nisha blows Y'vania a kiss and she manages a faint smile as I help her to get on the bed. Everyone wishes her luck and they all get out leaving me there. I have never seen a woman give birth before. The last time was easy because she was wheeled into the operation room and I didn't get to see her until later when the baby had already been born.

"Okay. You're fully dilated Y'vania so when the next contraction comes in start pushing. Calm down and focus on pushing."

She nods as the doctors and nurses position themselves as if they had practiced for this. One doctor is at the end of the bed and Doctor Harriet is somewhere between the end of the bed and the corner where she can monitor Y'vania's vitals and still see the baby coming out. The two nurses are positioned each on the side of the bed.

I don't know where to stand. One of the nurses tells me to stand on the upper side of the bed where I can hold Y'vania's hand and still kiss her although I highly doubt if she's in the mood for romance. I hold her hand and she turns towards me with a smile. I can't resist smiling back and kissing her forehead.

"You can do this Vani. You know you can and you will."

Her smile widens as tears roll down her eyes. I quickly wipe them and tell her to take a deep breath. She does and just then the next contraction hits. She starts pushing with all her might. Everyone is encouraging her to go on. The room has suddenly turned into some sort of a cheerleading arena.

She squeezes my hand tightly as she gives one long push before gasping for air and leaning back on the bed.

"Let's go again get ready, get ready, get ready and puuuush!"