"Unfortunately, little ones don't heed convenience," Jonah commented with a grin as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. "But, it isn't a problem, I'm happy to be here to help you along. Soon, you'll have a little daughter or son to hold and cherish, and, if what I've heard from new mothers is true, you may well wish he or she was back inside, where you don't have to deal with diapers and midnight feedings!"
He chuckled, washing his hands in the basin, then walking over to the bed. "I'd like to examine you, but I think we can wait until Mrs. Pike gets here, if that would make you more comfortable."
He did have a few deliveries under his belt, but often, it was awkward for a young woman to have a relatively strange man look at her 'naked', much the less touch her 'there'.
"Sure now, but my child heed me in my every word," Clara attempted a joke, she wasn't much for such frivolity but anything to get her mind off all this. She could not wait until it was over and hopefully it would not be long now.
He chuckled, washing his hands in the basin, then walking over to the bed. "I'd like to examine you, but I think we can wait until Mrs. Pike gets here, if that would make you more comfortable."
"Well, if you say so. But to be honest, we do not even know for certain Mrs. Pike is coming. She might be busy or off her ranch for some reason. But...you are in charge," Clara replied.
"We'll give her a bit of time," Jonah commented, "then send for old Mrs. Wiggins...or Miss Mudd, it that fails!" His attempt at humor, and he grinned. "I'm sure, if she is able, Mrs. Pike will be here. Now," he stepped beside the bed, "I'll just examine your belly for now." More invasive checks could wait a while.
Gently, he ran his hands over her belly, under the covers since this was something he could do by feel. "Seems to be in position...Oh!" He pulled his hands away and took a step back. "Kicking to get out, I see! By dark, you'll be a mother! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl."
It was close to two hours before there was a bustling downstairs, a quick exchange of voices -- Aurelian and a woman, Emeline -- then a light knock on the door.
"Am I too late?"
"We'll give her a bit of time," Jonah commented, "then send for old Mrs. Miggins...or Miss Mudd, it that fails!"
Clara went wide eyed, "No! I do not like that old woman. And much as I like Arabella, I do not want her here for this. She would not help, she just would go on and on in that style of hers about how the baby should be named Arabella if it is a girl. That is not going to happen!
The doctor grinned. "I'm sure, if she is able, Mrs. Pike will be here. Now," he stepped beside the bed, "I'll just examine your belly for now." More invasive checks could wait a while.
"Yes, of course, do as you must. You are the professional and I the patient," Clara calmed down again.
The doctor had nothing but good news at least, the baby was in position and soon this blessed event should happen. Clara was relieved to hear it, she dreaded, as all expectant mothers did, complications. She prayed every night she would be spared any such thing.
"Kicking to get out, I see! By dark, you'll be a mother! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl."
"It better be out by dark," muttered Clara, not that patient by now, "I think Jacob would like a boy, carry on the family name, help with chores and such. As for me, I only care that it be healthy. But if it is a girl, then I shall name it Emeline."
***
A couple hours and a few early spasms later, there was a knock on the door and a most familiar and welcome voice.
"Am I too late?"
"Sadly not," sighed Clara, "He or she is taking it's time. Come in!"
As soon as the woman entered Clara now openly smiled thru the discomfort, "Oh thank you for coming. The good doctor here has been threatening to summon Granny Miggins. As if labor is not painful enough."
"Oh, goodness, that's just cruel!" Emeline laughed as she hung her coat and scarf on a peg by the door, an action that had once been so familiar, then headed over to the bed to hug Clara. "I'm so excited for you! You're going to love being a mother."
"The baby seems to be in position," Jonah reported to Emeline, hoping for at least moral support from the woman. He actually had delivered a few babies, but it wasn't something he enjoyed, at least until the mother was holding the squalling bundle!
"And pains? Are they far apart?" Emeline knew all about the pains, how they became more frequent, longer and more painful as labor progressed.
"Oh, well..." Frowning, Jonah looked at Clara. "Are there pains?" He really hadn't noticed, one way or another.
"Doctor," Emeline almost chuckled, "Clara is a hardy soul, I don't think she'll show the pain until labor is far progressed." She gave the young woman's hand a squeeze. "Let us know when pains start and stop, so we can keep track."
Emeline approached and gave her a hug, which Clara melted into. Normally she was not the hugging kind but a few folk in this world - her Pa, Jacob of course, and this woman - could break thru her defenses without objection.
"I'm so excited for you! You're going to love being a mother."
"Well, I hope so because this childbirthing is not at all pleasant," Clara declared then winced but said nothing about it.
"And pains? Are they far apart?" Emeline knew all about the pains, how they became more frequent, longer and more painful as labor progressed.
"Oh, well..." Frowning, Jonah looked at Clara. "Are there pains?"
"Some, yes," Clara admitted to that much.
"Doctor," Emeline almost chuckled, "Clara is a hardy soul, I don't think she'll show the pain until labor is far progressed." She gave the young woman's hand a squeeze. "Let us know when pains start and stop, so we can keep track."
"I can be stubborn about such things. Do not like to show weakness after all," Clara had to admit that much. Her own father oft told her she was too stubborn and too opinionated.
"But yes, in the last...perhaps hour....I have felt stronger pains. Just felt it now. Quite uncomfortable."
She winced again ....sat there for some seconds then said, "It eased up now."
"Wish he or she would just make up his or her mind and be done with this!" she grumped.
"It gets worse, I'm afraid," Emeline commented, giving Clara's hand a squeeze. "We have Eve to thank for that, and I plan to have a chat with her when I get to Heaven!"
She pulled a chair close to the bed, then looked over at the doctor. "I'll go down and ask Mr. Redmond to put on some tea, it couldn't hurt for any of us, and some chamomile might help relax Clara."
"Indeed, I completely agree. Mrs. Lutz can't get dehydrated." Jonah stood, thinking that he'd rather have a couple shots of whisky instead of tea! "I can go do that, and you ladies can visit, I'm sure Mrs. Pike can tell you better what to expect. Oh, and if you would, Mrs. Pike, can you check the...progress. I'd rather not, until it's closer to the time."
No, he really didn't want to be looking at the young woman's privates, and he assumed she'd rather not have him looking as well!
"Yes, of course." Emeline understood. Even with the pain of labor, the intrusive nature was embarrassing, and Emeline had been attended by close friends.
As soon as Jonah had left, she turned her attention to Clara. "So, I just need to take a quick look, to see if the baby's head is showing yet."
+++++++
Downstairs, Jonah let out a breath as he approached Aurelian. "Mrs. Pike is taking command for now," he explained, "and she wants tea...chamomile...oh, and the young mother-to-be is doing fine. She's stoic."
Turned out Emeline was right about her predictions. It got worse alright. Much stronger pains and they came faster as the time dragged on into the late afternoon. Clara felt completely wore out but there was no chance of sleeping thru this! Nothing helped, not even the tea. She was so grateful Emeline was at her side but in truth the woman could do nothing to make it all happen any sooner. A part of the young brunette thought that maybe she should not have any more children if it meant going thru this tribulation.
It was going on 5 PM when the baby finally decided it was time to leave the womb and see what this big new world would be like. Aurelian could not bear watching so stayed at the foot of the stairs, excited, hopeful, and fearful too. But the doctor and Emeline were right there as Clara laid there legs up and spread as far as she could grunting with each push, moaning, and yes despite her determination not to, giving out a scream too.
The Lutz family suddenly had a new addition as the baby came out, little legs kicking, and umbilical cord attached. Mixed with utter relief the pain was finally over, Clara was now filled with impatient insatiable curiosity. Was it a boy or a girl?
ooc: I plan on rolling a die to decide the baby's gender so when you are ready to reply to this, we can do a quick check on Discord and then you can post the big reveal. :)
For a long time there was very little to do besides waiting, preparing, trying to ease Clara's time, although there was little to be done for it. But finally, it was time, and Emeline gripped the young woman's handas Jonah took up position.
As a doctor, birthing babies could be the most rewarding -- or most devastating -- of cases. Of course, ushering a new life into the world was an amazing experience, and seeing the joy the parents had...
But then, more things could go wrong than right, and there was the horror of losing not only the child, but the mother as well. So far, Jonah had been fortunate, and the few births he had attended had gone well.
With coaching and encouragement from both the doctor and Emeline, the new little life was there, face scrunched up as Jonah wrapped her in a blanket and handed her off to Emeline. There was still more to this, and the older woman had experience handling infants.
"Clara, look!" Grinning widely, Emeline wiped the baby clean, then held her up. "It's a girl! And as pretty and strong as her mama!"
Carefully, she handed the baby, who was fussing, but not crying, to the new mother.
For a long time there was very little to do besides waiting, preparing, trying to ease Clara's time, although there was little to be done for it. But finally, it was time, and Emeline gripped the young woman's handas Jonah took up position.
As a doctor, birthing babies could be the most rewarding -- or most devastating -- of cases. Of course, ushering a new life into the world was an amazing experience, and seeing the joy the parents had...
But then, more things could go wrong than right, and there was the horror of losing not only the child, but the mother as well. So far, Jonah had been fortunate, and the few births he had attended had gone well.
With coaching and encouragement from both the doctor and Emeline, the new little life was there, face scrunched up as Jonah wrapped her in a blanket and handed her off to Emeline. There was still more to this, and the older woman had experience handling infants.
"Clara, look!" Grinning widely, Emeline wiped the baby clean, then held her up. "It's a girl! And as pretty and strong as her mama!"
Carefully, she handed the baby, who was fussing, but not crying, to the new mother.