The Green Labyrinth

Birthday

Theo:

"Okay, so I have some consent forms I need to have you sign." She hands me a clipboard. 

"This is a consent to treat you in this hospital. This is a consent for blood or blood products if you need it, if you were to bleed enough to drop your levels low, we can give you a blood transfusion, this does include Rhogam if you need it. Do you want baby to receive the hepatitis B shot here in the hospital?" She asks.

"Sure." I say, signing away. 

"Okay, perfect. I do have to put an IV in and get some basic blood work. Is that okay?" She asks,  I nod.

I hold out my arm, she holds it looking for a vein.

"Dang, you have great veins!" She says chuckling. 

"Oooh..contraction.." I shift in the bed, breathing slowly. 

"It's okay, just breathe in and out, nice and slow..in...and out.." Emily says.

"Just like that..breathe in..and blow the pain out..blow it away." She rubs my belly with her hand slow. 

"Good. Keep going.." I keep going until it's calmed down. 

"Good. Okay, little stick here." She says, I don't even flinch. It's not as bad as the contractions..or the time I was stabbed. Nothing compares to that.

"Good, now just some tape." She says. 

"All done! Best patient so far for IV's! Baby looks great on the monitor. You said you wanted to use the tub?" She asks.

"Yes. If I could." I say.

"Okay, let me get Kim to come in and see you and then you can get in the tub. I'll start it so it's warm when you get in. This button is for me if you need anything, you can move around freely and relax as best you can. I'll be back in a bit!" She smiles and leaves the room.

"She's nice!" Collin says, I smile.

I get up from the bed, moving at the side, leaning over. Collin comes over, rubbing my lower back.

"Shh, it's okay. Breathe in and blow it out.." He says, his voice is so calming. 

He runs over, turning on the constellation lamp and some music on the bluetooth speaker.

"Just breathe.." He runs back, rubbing my lower back again as my hips sway side to side. 

"Knock knock!" Kim walks in. 

"Hi Theo! Looks like you're doing great!" She says. 

"I'm trying!" I smile. 

"Well everything is looking great so far. Do you mind if I check and see how dilated you are?" She asks. I nod, getting into the bed. 

"Okay, you're going to feel my fingers and some cold gel." She says, I squeeze Collin's hand, breathing in and out. 

"Okay perfect." She says, pulling the glove off and pushing it into the garbage. 

"You're 8 centimeters!!" She cheers.

"8!! Wow!! That's great!" Emily jumps excitedly!

"8/100/0" She says to her. She must see part of my confusion.

"8 centimeters dilated, fully dilated is 10, 100 percent effaced meaning the thinness of your cervix is like a piece of paper which is as thin as it can get. And 0 station means where the baby is. So it goes -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, and then out!" She says, smiling. 

"I'm so happy for you Theo. This is magical." She pats my leg. 

"Okay, I'm here all night so Emily will take care of you until we're ready." She says and leaves the room.