It was another six hours before the doctor assured Tasha they werealmost there. Her contractions were coming thick and fast with almost no gap between them.
“I've changed my mind,” she cried as she attempted to walk unaided from the birthing pool to the bed. “I don't want a baby any more. I'd rather have cystitis. I can't do this.”
“Sure you can. You’re the most brilliant woman I’ve ever met.” Jim’s words made Tasha frown and pout at him.
“You have to say that because this is all your fault. You did this to me. Oh God,” she cried as the pain struck again. “You have to know that we are never having sex ever again,” she announced.
“Oh, Tasha, I think we both know that won’t be happening.” Jim smirked, looking across at Mitch who was smiling between the two of them.
“Yes, and even that's your fault. You're just too good at sex. You've made me need it. Oh shit!” she cried as another contraction threatened to knock her off her feet.
“Tasha,” called Mitch, standing opposite her. “I think it's time, so I need to examine you, but can we decide where you're having this baby? Do you want to deliver in the pool?” he asked making her refocus.
“No, not the pool, it's making me seasick.”
With a laugh, the doctor looked across at Jim while Tasha climbed back onto the bed.
“Right then, you take care of your wife up that end and I will concentrate on delivering your baby.”
Tasha nodded and for no reason at all suddenly asked the doctor, “Mitch, you know my, erm, tattoo?” She almost whispered the last word, making the doctor and her husband smile at her for very different reasons; Mitch knowing that Tasha had forgotten it was there the first time he'd seen her post honeymoon and Jim just loved the idea of her being branded as his. He never tired of seeing the ink she bore, so much so she was now permanently bare there as she had been the first time he'd seen her wedding present to him.
“Yes,” frowned Mitch.
“Everything stretches during pregnancy and delivery, so will my tattoo? If it does, will it go back? It won’t be distorted or saggy, will it?” she asked quite seriously.
“It should all be good, Tasha. In fact, I don't think it’s changed during pregnancy so no reason for it to now.” He smiled as another contraction had Tasha crying out from between gritted teeth.
Having discarded the gas and air for making her sick, Tasha was considering asking for an epidural when a quick examination revealed her to be fully dilated and ready to deliver the baby, but together with her exhaustion and an increasingly distressed baby things were becoming a little more frantic in the room.
“Tasha, we need to get this baby out quickly and safely so when I tell you to push, I need you to push for all you're worth. Jim is going to help you do this, okay?”
Nodding, Tasha was becoming concerned. “Is everything alright?”
“I won’t lie, your baby is getting a little distressed so we need to get him out soon.”
“What happens if we can't get him out?” she asked tearfully, fearful for her unborn baby, doubling up as the worst contraction yet arrived.
“We will, but you may need some assistance.”
A nurse suddenly appeared carrying forceps. The sight of them was enough to throw Tasha into something of a panic. “Not a fucking hope in hell,” she cried, startling everyone. “You are not coming anywhere near me or my baby with those,” she screamed.
Moving so he was almost nose to nose with his wife, Jim smiled at her. “Tasha, listen to me, baby. If you really want to do this on your own you need to listen to Mitch and for once, do exactly as you're told, okay?”
She nodded compliantly as Jim nodded at the doctor who was settled on a stool between Tasha's thighs.
“Right then, when I say push, you push,” Mitch told her, “and push.”
Squeezing Jim's hand for comfort, support and strength Tasha pushed for all she was worth until she was told to stop.
“Good girl. We're gonna need another one of those and when I tell you to stop, you stop and pant. We don't want you to tear,” the doctor warned a horrified looking Tasha.
“Tear? I can tear? Why did nobody tell me that before?” She was horrified and a little scared as Mitch spoke again.
“And push again—push, push, push, push, push.”
She followed his instructions and soon after, when he told her to pant she did exactly that with the fear of tearing fresh in her mind.
“Okay then, we have the head so we're nearly done, and push again now.”
