number neighbor | j.m

fourty five

"here comes another one." i say standing on up and leaning on Stella's shoulders, as we've found its the way that causes the least amount of pain

"6 minutes in between, you're almost there."

unfortunately, this has been a repeated process going on for about 2 hours now. at first they didn't seem to be getting closer together, but farther apart and if they did get closer it wasn't consistent.

----

"how are you feeling?" stella asks as I'm lying on the couch, just finishing the strongest contraction yet

"like shit." I say laughing

"well that was your 5th five minute one in a row, do you want to drive to the hospital?" she asks

"yes!" I say relieved

"I thought so."

----
*7 hours and an epidural later*

"how much longer?" I ask stella as I pop another ice cube in my mouth

"i don't know hay, you're 6cm dilated, they said if your water doesn't break on it's own in the next hour they are going to break it. hopefully that will speed things up." stella answers

"Ms.Jefferson?" A nurse says before walking in

"yeah?" i respond

"your boyfriends here." she says

"JONAH!" I yell trying to get out of bed but it seems to be too much work

"Stay there hay, I'll come to you." Jonah says smiling

He sits down beside me pulling me into a big bear hug, kissing me after

"I really needed you jo." I say crying "I almost died."

"you did not almost die." Stella says shaking her head across the room.

"whatever it was, I'm so glad i made it here now." he says "how's it going?"

"well it's been what 7 hours? yeah, i have an epidural thank god. I'm 6cm dilated but my water hasn't broke yet." I shrug "So we've still got a while to go."

thank goodness jonah has stood up again because if on que, i felt a gush of warm liquid come out of me.

"that was supposed to happen right?" jonah asks in shock

"yeah, her water broke. I'll get the nurse." Stella says

The nurse comes in and hands me a new gown to wear. once I change, she has to do another exam.

"I'm glad that happened when it did. it looks like within 20 minutes you have gone from 6cm to 8cm." she says smiling

"so we're close?" I ask

"very. I'll be back in 20 minutes to check again, hopefully you'll be able to start pushing. let me know if you feel anything change." she says "I'll be down the hall preparing for the arrival of your little one."

"She's almost here jonah." I say smiling

stella went back home a few minutes ago to get some sleep and since jonah is with me now.

"I know! I made it just in time." He says "I can't believe we'll have an actual baby soon."

"It's crazy! My pregnancy seemed to go by so fast, yet the whole birthing process seems to be taking forever!" I smile

"well you started having contractions this morning at 10ish and now its almost 7pm." Jonah says "it's incredible that you're able to do this!"

"it is. giving birth has been one of my biggest fears since middle school and now that i think about it, it sucks but it's not the worst thing ever."

"I'm so proud of you." He says grabbing my hand

---

"it's been about a half hour now, are you ready to find out if it's go time?" the nurse asks coming back

"please." I say laughing

"I know how you feel. I was the same way when I had my son" she laughs "you ready to start pushing?"

"really?" I ask in disbelief

"you're 10cm, it's go time girl. baby's  head has dropped a lot, so it seems like it will be a fairly quick delivery compared to the rest of your day."