Page 69 of Totally Shipped
“So we head straight there?”
We are having to shout to be heard over the storm. Rex stops marching and moves closer. “The evac site is virtually en-route, it makes sense.”
Oh Rex, I think things stopped making sense years ago.
DAISY
I’m in labor—I think.
It’s too early.
Unless this is false labor…how am I supposed to know? Everything has been so uncomfortable for days; twinges, strains, aches, but thisfeelsdifferent.
I stand up on wobbly legs and try to assess the situation. I’m in a filthy cave, there is a cyclone raging outside, and the only person to help me through this is a nine-year old girl.
“How many water bottles do we have, K-Key?” I barely get my question out before I’m doubled over in pain. And the pain isn’t static, it’s building and building. How can this keep getting worse? How long has it been since the last one? Ten minutes? Eight?
I lean against the stone wall and let the pain wash over me. Keyara is saying something but I can’t concentrate on her words, I just concentrate on my breathing.
“Breathe, Daisy, it’s alright, just breathe.”
For the last few weeks, Killian has been doing Lamaze classes with me. He is the only one of us with any baby knowledge—well, pregnancy knowledge.
“You’ll need to keep moving during labor. Have an active labor. Don’t lie on your back—especially to give birth. You want to be crouched or on your knees.”
“Fine. And I wander around between contractions, but what about the pain?”
“Long, deep breaths through the nose, then exhale. Breathe in for five, breathe out for six. You just concentrate on the breathing. Breathe in for six, breathe out for seven. Elongate your breaths.”
“You’ll be with me?”
“I promise. You're not doing this alone, Daisy.”
I breathe, and move around the cave.
Breathing counts as tension mounts.
“Wow, good job on the fire, Key.”
“And we have seven water bottles, four of them were empty so I’ve put them in the rain to fill up—don’t worry, I jammed them between rocks so they won’t blow away.”
“You are amazing.” She really is. “Now, Key, if the guys don’t get here before the baby comes, I’m going to need your help, OK?’
Her eyes grow even wider. “OK.”
I try to imagine giving birth.
Don’t lie on your back. On my knees for the baby please.
“I’ll be on all fours, you know what I mean? And the baby will come out between my legs. I’ll need you to hold her as she comes out. We don’t want her to fall on the g-g-gr…”
Urgh.
Five seconds inhale, six seconds exhale. Six seconds inhale, seven seconds exhale.
A puddle forms on the floor between my legs. I guess my waters have broken.
Keep Calm, Daisy, you need to reassure Keyara.
