Labor and Delivery
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Estelle, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 29th December 2021
Characters: Bryvin, Brina, Asaile, Riadem, Yriadha
Description: Asaile has a difficult labor
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 10
Asaile sighed, rubbing her lower back as her maids helped her remove
her slippers. Her muscles had ached all day all along her spine and
with the weight of her belly, she felt swollen, uncomfortable and
exhausted. The first few months of the pregnancy, she had felt
wonderful, but as the child swelled her abdomen, she had become more
and more exhausted each day. Her maids and the Headwoman made sure she
ate healthy meals, but she felt so drained!
Exhaling, she slipped on the nightgown and slowly sat on the bed, her
feet aching. A sharp pang suddenly hit her lower back and she hissed
through her teeth, face scrunched up at the pain.
"My Lady? Are you alright?" Her maid looked immediately concerned and
bustled over, leaving the warm pan of water that she had been
preparing.
"My back. Faranth, a month more of this?" Asaile tried to manage a
smile, but it faded as she looked down at a sudden spread of wet that
soaked between her legs. "What...I didn't need to go..."
"Oh goodness, Lady. I think that's your birthwaters!" Her maid
squeaked in surprise and an older maid immediately rushed from the
room to call for a Healer.
Only a few minutes passed before Lady Brina hurried into the room,
having been alerted to what was happening by her own maid. She came over
and took Asaile's hand, her smile confident and serene. If she was at
all worried by the early timing of the birth, it wasn't visible in her
face. "It's started?"
Asaile nodded, fright visible in her eyes even as her maid began to
clean up the broken birth waters. "I didn't know. My back... it's been
hurting." She exhaled slowly. "It's too early, Lady Brina. I.t
shouldn't be until at least two sevendays. "
"It'll be all right," Brina replied, squeezing the girl's hand to
reassure her. "Sometimes babies come at their own time, early or late.
I've seen it happen many times. Let's see what the healer says when he
gets here."
She nodded. At least, she thought, she'd been around birthing women
before. Exhaling again, she rubbed her lower back. "Perhaps I'll walk
a little." She paused, holding on to Brina's hand. "Will someone let
Bryvin know? My father said husbands don't belong in birthing
chambers, but he should at least know."
"Yes, of course." Brina nodded to her maid, who slipped quietly out of
the room. She wouldn't have been surprised if someone had already
informed her brother - there was little in the Hold that escaped him -
but it would do no harm to be sure. "Let's walk together. Lean on me if
you need to."
Bryvin had been coming towards his wife's rooms when the maid found
him and he quickened his steps concerned. "Isn't this a bit early?" He
asked as he came toward her. He cupped her face. "Sorry I can't take
this for you, love," he said with concern in his eyes.
Asaile did indeed lean on the Lady Brina, face set in concentration,
but offered a relieved smile as Bryvin entered the room. His concern
touched her and she immediately spoke up to soothe him. "I knew this
was coming, my Lord. Just not right now." She inhaled sharply at a
sudden contraction that rippled around her belly to her back. Bravely,
the young woman tried to swallow her fear and attempt to smile through
the pain. "I'll be fine."
Riadem rapped lightly on the door and looked in, accompanied by a maid
and an apprentice who carried a basin, clothes and a small satchel.
"I've been told I'm needed." He inclined his head to Bryvin and then
to the two ladies. "May I come in?"
"Of course. Thank you for coming so promptly, Journeyman," Brina said,
slipping an arm around Asaile's waist to support her. "Lady Asaile's
waters have broken."
"I see." Riadem glanced down at the floor and then gestured to the
bed. "Lady, I'll need to examine you. Lady Brina, if you would help
her to the bed, please?" Riadem's assertiveness and confidence emerged
as he walked briskly in, then addressed Bryvin. "Excuse me, my Lord,
but most husbands prefer not to attend a birthing. It can take several
candlemarks."
Bryvin didn't doubt the healer was enjoying telling him to leave given
their history. But he couldn't argue with his expertise so he stroked
Asaile's face and said. "I'll be outside." He turned and nodded to his
sister and then Riadem. "Be very careful with her," he added in a low
voice.
Gently, Brina led the young girl over to the bed and helped her to sit
and then to lie down. She glanced back at her brother with an
encouraging smile, seeing him speaking quietly to the healer. "Don't be
scared, sister. I'll be here with you all the way through."
Riadem looked up at Bryvin, face set and calm. "I plan on it." Moving
past him, he went to Asaile and his voice was soft as he prepared to
check her. "It'll be fine, Lady. Soon you'll have a babe in your
arms. "
Asaile watched her husband leave, then allowed a small groan of pain
as a contraction gripped her belly. She tightened her grip on Brina's
hand and exhaled slowly. "It hurts..."
When Bryvin stepped out, Yriadha was waiting outside, placing a tray
on a small table. "It'll be a wait, my Lord. I have refreshments for
you. "
"Thank you," he said and sat down. Looking at the tray he didn't
really feel like eating but didn't want to say that in the face of
what she'd so thoughtfully provided. He reached for her fingers and
squeezed them lightly. "Thank you," he repeated and picked up one of
the tidbits.
Yriadha waited beside Bryvin as the evening continued, remaining by
his side throughout the pained moans of the younger woman within.
Glancing out of the window, she was able to watch one of the moons
rise, then another as candlemarks passed. Her lips thinned slightly as
she resisted yawning, but looked down at Bryvin often, checking on his
demeanor often as evening moved steadily into dawn, then into morning.
Inside, Riadem looked up at Brina, his face impassive, but jaw taut as
Asaile writhed weakly in pain. Asaile was so small and delicate that
the child was having difficulty passing from the womb. He did not want
to risk taking the babe, but there was precious little fluid remaining
to ease the babe's passage and Asaile seemed to be weakening. "A few
more pushes, Lady. You're almost there."
Asaile shook her head, "I can't...I can't. It's too much." Another
contraction seized her, rippling over her like a continuous wave, and
she moaned as pressure built and she pushed as best she could. Riadem
was met with blood, far too much blood, as the babe's head emerged and
he hissed at the tearing that resulted. "Towels. Now, Lady Brina. Hot
water and a blanket. Quickly!"
Brina felt Asaile's grip on her hand loosen and she rose immediately,
fetching the towels that had been laid aside for the birth while the
Lady's maid brought the water. The worry that had been growing in her, a
tightness in her chest as she watched the girl's pale, agonised face,
mingled with excitement to see the newborn child.
Asaile was quiet, barely grunting as a final contraction expelled the
infant into Riadem's waiting hands. At first there was no sound as the
child lay limply in his hands. Hurriedly, he used cleared the nose and
mouth of the babe, then lightly swatted the baby's feet. The little
girl child suddenly inhaled and gave a weak cry, lungs filling with air
and cheeks pinkening. With a quick snip, the cord was severed and he
handed the little girl to Brina. "Take her quickly, Lady. " Trusting
that Brina knew what she was doing, Riadem hurried to check on Asaile.
The young woman was pale, unconscious and still bleeding. Riadem worked
as fast as he could to staunch the bleeding and treat what he could.
She'd lost more blood than he liked and the birth had been as difficult
as he'd feared it would be.
Brina let out her breath in a soft "oh" of surprise and awe as the baby
was placed in her arms, but a swift look over her shoulder at Asaile
told her that she couldn't distract the healer now. Gesturing to her
maid for water, she carefully cleaned and dried the tiny newborn and
wrapped her in a warm towel, making soft, soothing noises.
Riadem worked quickly, calling his older apprentice to assist as he
carefully stitched, applied salves, and began cleaning the young Lady
Holder as best he could. The bleeding stilled, but the young woman was
still far too pale. "Warm blankets." The apprentice nodded and hurried
to bring blankets. Riadem rose and checked Asaile's pulse. It was not
as strong as he would have liked, but it was there and not thready. He
looked up at Brina. "She'll need to be watched carefully and
constantly, Lady Brina. She's very weak. I need to speak to Lord
Bryvin as soon as I can after he sees his newest daughter."
"I'll tell him." Brina's gaze passed over Asaile's pale face and she
glanced at the healer, but said no more. A maid hurried to open the door
for her as she left the room, cradling the infant in her arms, to find
the Lord Holder waiting outside with the Headwoman. "Brother?"
Bryvin sood as soon as his sister appeared. His eyes were large and
fastened on the bundle in her arms. He took a step toward her and then
saw the look on her face. "Brina?" Concern crossed his face.
"You have a daughter. A beautiful little girl." Brina approached and
very gently, passed the newborn over to her brother. Her voice was soft
and reassuring, but she couldn't hide the worry in her eyes. "Lady
Asaile is resting, but the birth was difficult and she is very tired and
weak. Journeyman Riadem would like to speak with you, as soon as you can."
The moment that Brina mentioned that the labor had been difficult,
Yriadha felt a surge of concern for the safety of her son. If anything
happened to the Lady Asaile, he could very well be blamed; Bryvin
would not take it kindly if he believed Riadem hadn't acted as he
should. Yriadha was quick in her attempt to soothe, "She's beautiful,
my Lord. A fine daughter and she looks healthy."
"Yes," Bryvin was smiling down into the tiny perfect little face with
her tuft of dark hair so like his and her mothers. He looked back up
and his sister and saw the concern in her eyes. Still cradling the
tiny girl he brushed past his sister and strode into his wife's room.
"Asaile," he smiled gently at her ravaged unconscious face, giving no
hint at the shock he was feeling. "She's beautiful," he said softly
and tilted his head to look at the bundle held in his arms. "You did a
wonderful job. I'm very proud of you, love." He looked across at one of
the attendants. "Make sure I'm informed when she wakes."
His eyes tilted over toward the healer and they held not a hint of the
gentleness he'd just shown his wife. "You wished to speak with
me?"
Yriadha spoke quietly to the Lady Brina as Bryvin walked away, "How
bad is it? Will she live?"
Riadem dried off his hands and spoke quietly as the attendants and
apprentices busied themselves with cleaning up the bloody aftermath of
the birth. "I did, my Lord. Your wife lost more blood than she ought
during the labor and she's very weak with an increased risk of
infection. I will be monitoring her very closely and I'll be sending
for special medicines from Healer Hall to give to her to strengthen
her." Riadem took a deep breath, continuing carefully. "She will need
a great deal of rest and care if she is to recover well."
Bryvin stroked his wife's hair and nodded. "She will receive anything
and everything she needs," he said tightly. "Do you require a
dragonriders help to expedite the medicines? I can arrange it if
needed." And privately in his mind he added **and if she dies, you
die.**
"That would be helpful, yes." Riadem inclined his head. "I'll write up
a missive and a list for the Hall. The sooner we get the medications,
the better she will be. She is my priority, I assure you."
Outside, Brina briefly explained the Lady's condition to Yriadha as best
she could. "She's lost a lot of blood, but she's young and I've seen
women recover from worse. The Journeyman says she must be watched
constantly, to summon him if there's any change. I will watch first, but
could you arrange for some steady women to take a turn?"
Yriadha felt an easing of the pressure in her chest, not for Asaile,
but for her son. She had faith in his abilities, but also knew she
would have to keep an eye on Bryvin for any hint of temper. Yriadha
nodded in response, the tension in her face easing slightly. "Of
course. I will also take time to watch over her. I know several
competent and responsible women who can assist to ensure that she
recovers."
Last updated on the February 10th 2022