Half of my heart

Today's the day

It's almost a week early, but I've been in labor a few hours now, and Brad and I have been in the hospital for a while. I'm worried that since it's early there might be something wrong with her, but the nurses and doctor keep reassuring me that she's fine. I can hear her heartbeat every time one of them come to check me and whenever I hear it I smile. No matter how much pain I'm in hearing that makes it go away for a little, making me want to speed up time so I can be holding her sooner.

I look over at Brad who is sitting in the chair next to my bed staring at the small corner TV and hold his hand. He hasn't left my side from the minute this started and every time I complain about how uncomfortable I am or if it hurts, he always reminds me that it's one minute closer to meeting her.

"You okay?" He asks wrapping his hand around mine. I just nod as I go through another contraction. He rubs my back knowing that helps and waits until he can tell I'm more relaxed to say anything "You only have a little longer." He reminds me.

"They said I was at 6 an hour ago. I have to get to 10, it could take hours." I complain even though I know he's probably right. I grab his hand again as I go through another contraction trying to relive the pain, and I realize that they're getting closer together. He just stays quiet not wanting to point out that he was right and does what he can to help me when I need it.

"How are you feeling?" The nurse walks in my room smiling.

"Good." I shrug.

She takes the hint that I don't really feel like talking and does her job. I watch her as she looks at all the vital signs and levels and writes them in my chart making sure she doesn't look surprised in any way. She then checks me to see how far I am and seems a little surprised "I was just here an hour ago, right?" She asks and Brad answers yes. She then recheck and looks up at us "You're at 9 now, close to 10. You really moved fast."

"So it won't be much longer?" I ask very hopeful.

"I'm actually going to tell you doctor now and see what she wants to do. I don't think it will be long at all." With that, she leaves to find the doctor and Brad and I sit in quiet, bracing ourselves for what comes next. I lay tilted a little towards my side holding Brad's hand waiting until the doctor comes in.

"You're definitely ready, so we're going to get some more nurses then have you start pushing." She walks around checking all the machines and vital signs then helps the nurse set up the baby area.

I can't wait for them to get here so I can get this over with. The contractions are unbearable and with everyone I feel the need to push getting stronger and stronger. I sit up in bed a little to try to get more comfortable and the doctor finally tells us that the nurses will be here in a minute.

She holds the monitor over my belly to listen to the heartbeat for a minute then finally gets everything else set up. "On your next contraction you can start." She tells me and takes her place standing at my legs.

I sit up and start to push as soon as I feel the contraction starting. The pain is excruciating and I want to get this over with as soon as possible. I push again, this time harder than before and squeeze the hell out of Brad's hand to help control the pain.

"You're almost done." He tells me when he can see how much pain I'm in and how exhausted I am.

I wait until the next contraction and push as hard as I can wanting to be done. I scream as I feel the doctor slowly pull her out and stop pushing for a few seconds to catch my breath.

"Just a little more. One more push." The doctor tells me as she holds the baby's head up. I take a deep breath as push again, one last time. The pain is unbearable and I can hardly do it, but I feel the doctor pull her out completely and when she puts her on my chest all the pain goes away.

I just stare at her as the nurses really quickly clean her not taking her off my chest, then pick her up when they're done. I start to cry when I see her and she looks back up and me. She's so beautiful, and I can't believe she's mine.

"She's so beautiful, she looks just like you." Brad says as he stands looking over us with tears in his eyes. I hand her to him so he can see her better and my heart melts when I see him staring at her with nothing but love and admiration.

"Do you guys have a name?" The doctor asks a while later.

"Briella Skye Pitt." I answer her.

"That's beautiful." She responds and hands me everything Brad and I need to fill out. We finish everything and they take Briella to do a few routine checkups and say they'll bring her back later.

I move to the side of my bed a little making some room for Brad and he leans on it next to me. He knows I'm exhausted and about to fall asleep, so he kisses me and whispers "I love you" knowing that's the last thing I'll hear until I water up.

Briella Skye Pitt.