Babies, Husbands, and why I was a Parent by 17

Chapter Eleven: My Family

I couldn't even move. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and I couldn't get up without help.

I was sitting on the couch, eating some almonds when I felt it. I pinch at the base of my spine. My stomach fluttered with nerves. I remembered this. I picked up my phone and set the timer. 15 minutes later, I felt the pinch again, stronger this time. I set the timer again. 10 minutes. Set the timer again. 9 minutes.

I picked up the phone and called Jasper's number. "Baby... I'm going into labour," I said, my breaths coming unevenly from nerves. The fuzzy, happy, lovely memories from Bella's day of birth came back to me. In the morning, they weren't so fuzzy. This hurt a LOT.

I started breathing deeply. I placed my hand on my stomach, rubbing it lovingly.

"I love you, babies," I said to my stomach, trying to be brave. I did this before, I can do it again. I didn't have an epidural last time, and I wasn't planning on having one this time, but I was suddenly considering it. I shook my head. Jasper and I wanted a natural birth, and that's what it was going to be. 

I closed my eyes, and the next pinch came. 8 1/2 minutes. Jasper burst through the front door and was at my side in a moment. His lips were on mine, his fingers brushing my hair off my face. 

"Are you ready to go to the hospital?" he asked me. I shook my head. 

"Dr Robertson said my contractions needed to be 5 minutes apart to go to the hospital. Right now, they're 81/2." I groaned in pain as another pinch came, more painful than any of the others.

"Make that 6," I said, laughing weakly. "Why am I going through labour so fast?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know," Jasper said, rubbing my stomach. He squeezed my hand and a few minutes later, another contraction shot pain all through my stomach and back.

"That's four minutes! We have to go," I cried. Jasper heaved me off the couch and helped me wadlle to the car. He brought some receiving blankets with us. Bella was in his arms when he made his final trip to the minivan. He strapped Bella into her car-seat and got in the driver's seat as quickly as he could.

Two more contractions came in the car, and then I felt a wet sensation spreading over my legs, but a bit slimier than pee.

"Crap," I gasped nervously, breathing raggedly with nerves. "Jasper," I groaned, "water just broke. Why is this happening so fast?"

"We're almost there, sweetie, hold on!" Jasper said, holding my hand. He parked at the hospital and rushed inside. He and a nurse came out a moment later with a wheelchair. My heart fluttered as the day of Bella's birth flitted back into my mind. I was in so much pain....

Next thing I knew, I was being heaved into the wheelchair and rushed into the hospital, Jasper jogging behind me and the nurse with Bella bouncing in his arms.

When we finally got to the delivery room, Dr Robertson was waiting for us, yanking on some plastic gloves. My contractions were coming very close together, and Dr Robertson informed me that my cervix had dilated by 4 cm already. My sweaty hands clutched at the thin mattress beneath me as a whoosh of pain hit me. 

"Alright Hannah, I'm sorry it's so soon, but you're going to need to push for me!" Dr Robertson said calmly.

I nodded, my throat going dry. I remembered how much this hurt. Jasper grasped my hand tightly, Bella hiding her face in his other arm.

"I'm right here, Hannah," I heard Jasper's voice as though he was in a tank of water. His words sounded thick and garbled, a hundred kilometres away.

I pushed with all my might, pain shooting through my entire body. I pushed again, straining myself. Sweat poured down my face, and coated my body in a sheen of water. I breathed heavily through my nose and heaved. 

"Your baby's coming..." Dr Robertson said. "Congratulations, your first baby is a boy! Now keep pushing, Mrs Louis!"

My heart filled with happiness as I thought of a baby boy. He would look just like Jasper... I did as I was asked, though, pushing and straining. I kept heaving a shoving with all my might.

"Your second baby is not coming as easily, but just keep pushing, Mrs Louis!"

I summoned all my strength a pushed with every ounce of power I contained in my body. 

"Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Louis, your second baby is a girl!"

A rush of happiness filled me. I was weightless. The pain was gone. A rush of beautiful, wonderful emotions spread through my body, making me feel deflated, tired, but very content. My two sticky babies were placed in my arms. They were pink and wrinkly, with their fingertips tinged blue. 

Tears of joy poured down my face, and I turned to see Jasper sitting next to me on the bed, tears sparkling in his own eyes.

He looked me straight in the eyes, his forehead pressed against my own.

"I am so proud of you," he said, and kissed me. 

The series continues in the last book: Toddlers, Husbands, and Why I had to be Mature by 18