Perfectly Unexpected - Finished

Chapter Twenty - Labor

Every month has 28-31 days. Except the last month of pregnancy. That has 49529485729347 days.

Once I hit 38 weeks, I became anxious more and more every day to meet my baby and to be done being pregnant. I was horrifically uncomfortable. My feet were swollen. My belly was huge, I felt like my skin could not stretch anymore to accommodate. It was itchy. I was often out of breath. I felt nauseous when I ate because my stomach was squished. I had to pee every few minutes. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't put on socks without Daniel's help.

This particular morning, December 20th, a Friday, I didn't feel well. My hips ached. My back ached. My stomach ached. I had cramps. It was normal, during pregnancy, but getting hit with it all at once really wore down on me. As soon as I sat up, I winced in pain.

I didn't feel like I could lie down anymore. I was uncomfortable and definitely not getting back to sleep. I stood up and stretched, feeling the skin stretch and itch against my huge bump. I stayed in my pajamas and walked around the house.

I wandered to the baby's nursery. Everything, for now, was in it's place. The crib had been made up carefully with pink bedding, covered in owls. Pictures of owls decorated the white walls. The changing table was stocked with diapers, wipes and diaper cream.

A hot shower significantly helped the pain and I wished I could stay there all day. I only had one more week at work, and if I hadn't had so much to get done, I would've considered calling out and staying in the shower.

Instead, I went and got dressed. Maternity jeans and a blouse. It was a little too casual for the office, but Sam and I had been getting along as best we could, and he was letting my increasingly casual attire slide.

The pain returned as I was walking around. I knew today was going to be a bad day. I took some Tylenol and woke up Daniel. I told him about the pain and that I didn't feel well.

“Didn't you say you were having contractions a few days ago?” He asked.

“On and off. They were probably braxton hicks.” I said. Fake contractions that your body uses to practice for the real thing.

“Right.” He said.

He got dressed and we ate breakfast as always. We got around and went outside to get in the car. As I was sitting down, I felt a sharper pain in my lower stomach. It took me by surprise and caused me to gasp.

“Are you alright?” Daniel asked.

“Just a sharp pain, it scared me more than it was actually painful.” I said.

“Should we go to the doctor?”

“Nah, I'm okay.” I assured him.

As the day went on at work, I got more sharp pains. They were consistent, and I started to think this was it. I timed them. 8 minutes apart for thirty seconds. 6 minutes apart for 45 seconds. 5 minutes apart for 60 seconds... this is how they progressed in just the eight hours I spent at work.

By the end of the work day, I was worried. I was having contractions, that was for sure. They became intense, squeezing my stomach and stopping me in whatever I was doing. They were coming four minutes apart, still at a minute long. I stood up to start gathering my things and felt a warm gush of fluid hit my thighs. My face went cold.

“Sam?” I called out.

His head shot up. “You okay?”

“Get Daniel.” I said. He stood up from his desk and shot down the hall. I stayed in place, shocked. I suddenly felt like I wasn't ready after all of the times I wished she would just come out already.

Daniel and Sam came rushing in. Daniel came to side immediately.

“My water broke.” I told him.

“No, Kassie. You're bleeding.” He said.

I finally looked down and saw the blood drops on the floor. I looked back up to meet Daniel's eyes.

“I'm calling an ambulance.” Sam said.

“No, I'll get her there faster. Let's go.” Daniel said. I followed him, in shock, down to the car. He grabbed a towel from the backseat and threw it on to the passenger seat. I sat in the car and buckled my seatbelt. I noticed I was crying when Daniel wiped a tear off my face.

I walked into the hospital and explained what was going on. They directed me to the labor and delivery floor who had already been notified, I had called on the way to the hospital. As soon as I walked through the doors of the labor and delivery unit, nurses were waiting and ushered me into a triage room to put on a gown. Daniel stayed with me and held my hand.

My OBGYN walked in carting a portable ultrasound machine. I feared the worst. I explained all of my contractions and the bleeding. He didn't seem too concerned, but rushed to begin the ultrasound. He didn't speak right away.

“You have what we call a placental abruption. Your placenta is prematurely tearing away from the walls of your uterus. The baby looks okay for now, but I'm scheduling you for a c section in the next few hours. If the placenta completely detaches, we would only have moments to save her.” He explained.

I started crying. I couldn't imagine coming this far and losing my baby. Daniel squeezed my hand. The OB went to go talk to the nurses and get a plan in place.

Within half an hour, Jasmine showed up with my bags. I had them packed for weeks and left them by the door of our house just in case I went into labor unexpectedly or got sent to have the baby from a routine appointment. She rushed in and set the bags to the side. We told her what was going on. I cried more, they tried to comfort me.

At one point, I gave Jasmine my credit card and asked her to help get my mom here. She also sent Sam a text to explain what was happening and he said he would head to the hospital within an hour. I still didn't want him here.

'I talked to your mom, she's going to pack and I've got a flight booked. I'll meet her at the airport and take her to your place.” Jasmine said. She patted my hand and smiled at me.

“Thank you.” I said. I large contraction came. I scrunched up my face and squeezed Daniel's hand. He leaned his lips to my hand. I breathed deeply, trying to remember all of the Youtube videos I watched in preparation.

A nurse came in to place my IV. She asked us questions about what we wanted and didn't want. She filled out a sheet for us so everyone knew our wishes. I signed consent forms.

It was really happening,