Fifty-Four | Lyric
Fifty-Four
Lyric
I woke up to the worst pain I had ever experienced in my life.
A jolt shot through me, my stomach tightening as I sat up and clenched it, trying to remember to take deep breaths.
“Cole,” I managed to bite out, nearly snarling as I reached for his arm.
I meant to squeeze it gently enough to get his attention, but the contraction got stronger, and I gripped it so hard, he bolted right up. His eyes scanned the room as he tried to figure out what was happening.
I shook my head, trying to keep from screaming because I didn’t want to wake everyone up.
“Shit,” he stammered, pushing the covers back as he realized what was happening.
He sat on his knees beside me as he gently rubbed my back, watching me with concern as we both waited for it to stop.
My whole body trembled from the pain once the contraction ended.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked.
“I think the babies are coming.”
“Okay. No problem. We are more than ready for this,” he said as he quickly got out of bed and threw a T-shirt on over the one he was already wearing.
I sat on the bed and frowned as I watched. He met my eyes for a split second, then looked down, realizing what he had done.
“For the most part, we’re ready for this,” he corrected.
He took the other shirt off and tossed it aside before coming around to the other side of the bed to help me up.
I took his hand and threw my legs over the edge, making sure I was steady before standing.
I felt the trickle of fluid as it dripped down my legs and looked behind me to see a wet spot where I had been sleeping.
“Just great,” I muttered in frustration.
“What’s wrong?”
“I peed the bed during that contraction.”
Cole smiled slowly as he held my hands in front of us and waited for me to look at him.
“I don’t think you peed, baby. I think your water broke.”
I nodded in agreement, too exhausted to have realized it on my own. Last night had been terrible with my body aching so badly that I hadn’t slept well. I tossed and turned so much that I had barely fallen asleep a few hours before I was woken up by the contraction.
“If you want to go change clothes, I’ll call my parents and have them come stay with the kids.”
“Sounds great.”
I waddled into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. I knew Cole would handle everything, so I didn’t have much to worry about, which was kind of nice since I had the hardest job of all—giving birth to two babies.
***************************
Four hours later, I was ready to punch a hole through the wall from the agonizing pain I was in.
My OBGYN had met me at the hospital after Cole called her before we left the house.
Everyone was super kind and doing their best to keep me comfortable, but the pain was seriously making me feel like a totally different person.
We had several discussions about different pain management options, but I declined all of them.
I had made it this far with bringing these babies into the world; I wasn’t going to mess it up now.
While I knew that the risks were very low, I wasn’t about to tempt fate with unnecessary complications if I didn’t have to.
Life had been a fickle bitch for years, so there was no way I was going to let my guard down now.
“You’re ten centimeters,” Doctor Navarro said, smiling at me after finishing her exam. “It’s time to have these babies.”
I nodded, feeling an equal combination of excitement and fear.
“I’m right here, baby,” Cole said, always knowing what I needed before I had to ask for it. “We’re going to do this together. I’ve got you every step of the way.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head as I grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard when another contraction started.
“Slow, deep breaths, Lyric,” Doctor Navarro said, pulling the stool over and sitting down in front of me.
My legs were already up in the stirrups, and I had given up trying to be modest hours ago.
Between the cervix checks and constantly repositioning the monitors for the babies, everyone had seen just about everything. “You’re doing great.”
I tried to do as she said and focused on my breathing, but I was exhausted. Not only were the contractions coming on stronger, but they were so frequent that it felt like I didn’t have a chance to catch my breath in between them.
Finally, it stopped, releasing its grip on me for a few seconds as I slumped back against the bed and closed my eyes.
“On the next contraction, I want you to start pushing slowly.”
I nodded, acknowledging that I heard what she was asking.
Cole stood beside me, pushing sweaty strands of hair off my face and never leaving my side.
As much as I wanted to meet my sweet babies, I really wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and sleep for a few days.
I always knew that sleep would be something I would have to get used to going without; I just didn’t think it would start before I had the babies.
I didn’t have much time to think too much about it because another contraction started. I closed my eyes and bent forward, trying to focus on pushing and not on the pain that threatened to consume me.
“That’s it, Lyric,” Doctor Navarro said. “Keep pushing. You’re doing a great job of pushing the baby down. Just a little bit more.”
I grunted as I pushed with all I had, nearly collapsing once the contraction ended.
This went on for what felt like forever, the constant pushing through the pain, only to have a few minutes to rest before it started over. I was convinced my body would give up before I had a chance to get the babies out.
“I know you’re tired,” Doctor Navarro said, looking at me as I struggled to keep my eyes open. “You’re truly doing an amazing job, Lyric. I can see the baby’s head, so on this next contraction, you’re going to push as hard as you can. Harder than you’ve been pushing, okay?”
I shook my head as tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” I sobbed.
“Yes, you can. I promise, you can do this.”
“No, you’re wrong. I’ve been pushing as hard as I can, and nothing has happened. I don’t have anything left in me.” I cried harder as my shoulders slumped. “You’re going to have to find another way to get them out. Please, find a way to save my babies.”
Cole turned to face me, staring into my eyes, even when I tried to look away.
“You are so fucking strong, baby. You have taken everything life has thrown at you and not only survived it, but you’ve fucking owned it. I do not doubt that you can do this, baby. You’ve got this. You are so much stronger than you think.”
“I can’t do this,” I said, crying harder. “There has to be another way.”
“Unfortunately, with the baby this low in the birth canal, we don’t have any other options.
We need to deliver vaginally,” Doctor Navarro said.
“It looks like another contraction is getting ready to start. I need you to push for me as hard as you can, okay, Lyric? Push until you can’t push anymore. ”
“I’ve got you,” Cole said, squeezing my hand.
The tears flowed freely as I felt the contraction start.
I didn’t bother to muffle the screams that ripped through me as I pushed with everything I had.
It was impossible to know how much time had passed, but something happened deep inside of me.
It was as if there was this strange force that entered my body, giving me strength I didn’t know I had.
I pushed hard, bearing down as I squeezed Cole’s hand until Doctor Navarro told me to stop pushing.
We did this a few more times until the first baby was out safely.
“Congratulations,” Doctor Navarro said, passing the baby to me and helping me hold it against my chest. “It’s a boy.”