Jughead's Family Secret

Chapter 14

"What do you want to name her?" Betty asked. I went wide eyed, how had we forgotten a name. I thought about it," How about Asherah Marie Jones?" I asked her," She has dark black hair and we could call her Ash for short." Betty nodded," That's beautiful." A nurse walked in," Do you have a name?" We nodded yes. Betty was directed to go fill out the birth certificate. Another female nurse walked in," You ready for a shower?" I nodded. I managed to stand by myself, but winced in pain at every step. Even though I didn't want her to, I had no choice but to let her help me shower. I saw a lot of blood going down the drain. "Is that normal?" "Yes, it's extra blood and tissue draining from your uterus." I nodded. I had to wear the pad thing that would catch the blood. Betty had told the nurse she would help me get dressed. I winced at the feel of my t-shirt against my swollen chest. Betty helped me back in bed. My stomach hadn't automatically shrunk back to normal, and I looked 8 months pregnant. A nurse wheeled the baby back in and gave her to me. "Hello Ash," I coed. She started crying. "You may want to feed her, the nurse told me. I handed the baby to Betty and took off my shirt. It took Ash a few tries but she eventually latched on. "Call Dad, Veronica, and Archie," I tell her transfixed on Ash. Archie and Veronica had been together and Dad was in the waiting room with Jellybean. When Dad came in I was gently burping Ash. I put my shirt back on and laid her on my chest, supporting her. "She's gorgeous," he told me. She had opened her eyes and they were a grayish blue. I passed her to him. He had held her for about ten minutes when Veronica and Archie came in. Veronica went straight to my Dad, but Archie came to me. "You feeling okay?" "Yeah, just really sore and I'm still having these contractions in my uterus so it can shrink back to it normal size." "Sounds unpleasant." "It is." Veronica had somehow managed to get Asherah from Dad. "What did you name her?" Dad asked. "Asherah Marie Jones," Betty said with a big smile. "Oh that's just beautiful," Veronica said. The baby started crying in her arms. Betty went up and grabbed her," She needs a diaper change." Betty changed her, then Archie had his chance to hold her. She looked like a little football in his giant arms. "How much does she weigh?" He asked amazed at her. "6 pounds and 5 ounces," I said wincing at a contraction. She started fussing again, so Betty took her, but she didn't want Betty either, I was finally given her and she started cooing. I held her for a minute. "I'm starving," I state," I haven't eaten in over 25 hours." "I'll go get you something to eat," Betty said then she walked off. I assumed she was going to the cafeteria. She came back with a plate full of food, green beans, corn, a pork chop, and a big cold glass of water. I passed the baby to Betty, and Ash got passed around as I ate ravenously. I moved the food tray to to the corner of the room and placed my cup of water on the bedside table. Ash was getting fussy again, I assumed she was hungry. She cried and my breast leaked, I had changed into a little zip up jacket and only revealed what had to be revealed. We went on talking. "Y'all hush," I say. We did and Asherah was making the loudest, and most unnecessary noise I'd ever heard. We laughed, then went on. I burped her and she dribbled on my shoulder a little, then she passed out in my arms. Betty took her carefully and layed her in the bassinet. I stood and walked to the bathroom, having to change the blood catcher. At our stay at the hospital the doctor talked about things I could do for discomfort, SID (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), they taught me how to pump, and told me that to remember with breastfeeding whatever I get the baby also gets.