Chapter 8
My eyes filled with tears as I heard the sound of the baby’s first cry.
This was the second birth I aided in, and it was still no less awe-inspiring.
I was sweaty and my hands cramped from where the young mother had clutched my hand, but everything else seemed to fade away witnessing the miracle of birth.
After my class was over with and I had lunch with my guys they scattered in different directions to get caught up on the duties.
Jaxson had to complete one of his final assignments with Mr. Bates and I wasn’t allowed to hang around while he was doing it.
Drake was assisting a group of teens with their home economics project, and I didn’t want to witness the fawning some of the female students did over him.
My emotions were too high to keep my temper in check—see, I was self-aware and reasonable at times.
My other option was to sit in the briefing meetings with Jace, Lincoln, Troy, and Remy.
Yes, I could have done my schoolwork in the war room but some of the teams returned with a somewhat obnoxious high.
They had every right to show their happiness on their successful missions, but I knew my meter was low.
I still fell overstimulated by the events of the last few days, so I had decided to stay by Noah’s side to help him at the clinic.
“Are you sure you don’t want to hold her?” Dr. Branch softly inquired to Crystal before handing the baby to me.
I cradled the beautiful bundle close to my chest as the nurse instructed me what to do.
Never, in my life, had I imagined I would find so much fascination with the whole labor and delivery process.
I was beyond humbled that Crystal allowed me this experience and I was able to comfort her through the process.
It was by pure luck and coincidence that Crystal—Herman’s other baby’s mother—had come in four centimeters dilated and in active labor.
After getting check-in she had told us that we could notify Herman of her situation, but she didn’t want him in the room.
She also insisted that once the baby was born, she didn’t want to have any bonding time with it.
The in-house psychologist reconfirmed her decisions and verified that it had been part of her birth plan from the very beginning.
My heart went out to Crystal. She seemed like a very nice girl, and I knew it hurt her to make the decision to give up her child, but I understood why she did it.
She had barely graduated from high school when she was abducted and because of her home life prior to her abduction she had decided she never wanted children of her own.
Much like me she had parents and caregivers that struggled with addiction, but unlike me she had been the sole caregiver of her half-sister and five other step siblings.
“I’m sure,” Crystal said in a steady tone, looking away from the baby. She grimaced as Dr. Branch began to deliver her placenta. “You can take her out to Herman.”
I didn’t know what Herman had said or done but suddenly, Crystal seemed less hesitant to sign over her rights to him and allow him to take sole custody of their daughter.
I knew throughout the entire process that she was seeing the psychologist and assumed she had a hand in helping her come around to the idea.
The psychologist had sat with her twice a week since she had been rescued and deemed her mentally sound of mind to make the decision regarding the termination of her parental rights.
She had every intention to continue seeking counseling but knew she wanted to make her life a better one than the one she had been born into.
Neveah, the nurse, looked at me with sad eyes but tried to give me a valiant smile.
She was one of the older nurses that Noah loved working with.
She was a kind and patient woman, and I had instantly clicked with her.
She was also a nurse he often requested since Dani still wasn’t getting the hint regarding Noah’s complete disinterest and our relationship status.
“Once we get this little darlin’ all cleaned up, we’ll transfer her to another room, and I’ll let Dad know.”
I nodded and she continued to walk me through the process of putting a diaper on the little one’s tush. Then she helped me swaddle her before placing a cap over her head.
“You’re like a pro already,” she complimented. “If music doesn’t work out for you, you would be amazing in the L&D.”
This wasn’t the first time Neveah had attempted to coax me into pursuing a nursing degree. Honestly, I was tempted. Once everything settled down, I intended to go to college, I just wasn’t certain when or how. I wanted to pursue my music career but having a backup plan wasn’t a bad idea.
“Maybe,” I smiled at her.
“Noah,” Dr. Branch said in a concerned tone before turning to the other nurse in the room. “I’m going to need some O positive blood.”
I turned in concertation to now see Crystal laying limp and more blood than normal coming from her. I took a few hesitant steps toward her wondering if I should step in and help. The other nurses in the room rushed out of the room.
“Should I—” I began before Noah raised a hand toward me giving me a reassuring look.
“I got this. Go ahead and introduce Herman to his baby girl.”
I reluctantly turned and left the room, the moment we stepped out the nurse, Niveah, sighed.
“I love my job but sometimes times like this, it’s hard.
Crystal is so brave and I’m sure it was a hard decision to make, and one I’m not sure I could ever make.
It can’t be easy giving a part of yourself up. ”
I hummed in partial agreement. “I think it would have been different if she was complicit in the act of getting pregnant with her.”
“True,” Niveah nodded, opening the door to another smaller room. “I’ll go get Dad or would you like to? I’ll also prepare a bottle for the little one.”
As if on cue the baby began to root around on my breast. Another pang of sadness struck me.
Poor baby was seeking comfort and nourishment and wasn’t even aware that her poor mama had to make tough decisions in regards to her.
Crystal really was a brave girl to have sacrificed her body for months, knowing she had no intention of keeping her.
“I can stay here,” I basked in the baby cuddles, before directing my statement to the baby rooting around my breast. “Sorry, pumpkin I have nothing for—” my words were cut off as I felt warm liquid expel from my breast.
I looked down in mortification realizing that the scrub top I had on was now soaked in the front, primarily my breast. What in the halibut!
Niveah had one hand on the doorknob and had turned when I hadn’t finished my statement. She let out a short burst of laughter and covered her mouth after she realized my horrified expression.
“Is that milk?” I asked. “Isn’t it way too early for me to be leaking?”
“Technically it’s colostrum,” she confirmed. “And no. Some women begin expressing colostrum as early as sixteen weeks. I imagine your hormones are reacting to the baby’s need.”
I was dumbfounded and looked at her with wide eyes. “What do I do?”
I was at a total loss. I knew pregnant women could lactate prior to birth but I didn’t know what I could do beyond taking a shower.
Would I constantly lactate? Should I hand the baby off if it triggered my milk.
I hadn’t read any books on the matter and couldn’t remember Heidi leaking prior to having Ella.
“Well,” she said. “I’ll get you another scrub top and something to put in your bra, then go fetch Dad.”
“Should I be pumping some of this milk to build up a supply?” I tentatively inquired. “I want to breastfeed as long as possible and I’m not even sure my body can produce enough milk to feed two babies.
She gave me a soft smile. “No, actively using a machine can cause you to go into labor and at this time the babies need to grow, but there’s other options to not allow anything to go to waste.
Look up milk catchers. You can slip them into your bra, and they’ll ensure none of your liquid gold goes to waste.
“And as far as supplying enough, we’ll have a lactation consultant visit you after the babies are born.
She’ll give you many tips on how to boost your supply, and if you’re one of the cases that you’ll need to supplement, she’ll help you with that as well.
The greatest advice I got when I started my breastfeeding journey was not to stress about it because it can hinder, your supply as well. ”
I nodded feeling slightly overwhelmed. I knew I was pregnant, it was hard to forget, but this was just another check to my reality. It was becoming more real and real when things like this happened.
η
“Someone’s feeling horny,” I laughed between kisses.
Noah hummed against my throat, before trailing more fevered kisses against my skin. The whole time he kissed me his hands were eagerly divesting me off my scrub bottoms.
After Noah helped heal Crystal from hemorrhaging, we had to step in and help one of the gifted that came back from a mission with a critical injury.
We were able to procure another one of Horatio’s goons but not without a few of our people getting injured.
Horatio seemed to have wizened up and had his people traveling in groups.
The new reader that accompanied the group hadn’t realized the extra gifted hidden and it nearly cost a few of our people their lives.
We had stepped in and had to use a lot of our gifts.
Admittedly, I had exited the trauma center feeling horny and hungry.
However, because of the late hour I suspected Noah would have turned me down for any lovings.
So needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when he pushed me into one of the empty exam rooms.