Birthing Babies

Writers: Jane, Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 26th November 2007

Characters: Teene, Geni, Vaheri
Description: Geni gives birth aboard the Sungazer with Vaheri and Teene's help
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 4

"Not ever having babies," Teene muttered under her breath, not for the first time. "And never on a riverboat." She glanced up at the Sungazer's headwoman and flashed an apologetic smile. "Not that it's not a nice place, generally."

Vaheri forced a smile for the two women. "It's alright. Women of riverboats have babies all of the time and survive quite nicely." She did not add that most of them chose to disembark at the Waypoint when close to their time, just in case a healer was needed.

"I think I should go and -" Anything. "Look after the children? I'm sure they need more more than you do, Geni ..."

She released a slow moan, her eyes travelling from the Headwo- 'Vaheri', she corrected herself, to Teene, and shook her head, all the while panting as another contraction built up. Puff - puff, pant - pant, oh sweet Faranth, puff - puff, pant - pant.

Vaheri's eyes turned to the fostermother. "The children are fine. Right now I'm sure that Geni would prefer to have someone familiar with her."

Teene grimaced. "I was afraid you might think that."

The riverboat headwoman's reply was without sympathy for Teene. "If you know your duty, then do it rather than trying to shirk it." She turned her attention back to the pregnant woman, placing a hand gently on Geni's abdomen as a very visible contraction gripped her. Vaheri breathed evenly, counting to herself and ignoring the sounds of the other women until the taut skin was once again still. "They're getting stronger. It really shouldn't be much longer now."

"Good," Teene said faintly, now as worried about the old woman's tongue as by the business of witnessing the baby's birth.

Her breathing slowed as the pain of the contraction eased, she loosened her hands from the two bindings that were fixed to the headboard behind her. Wringing her hands, she looked to Teene, "I know this wasn't what you wanted..." she shook her head, "But Vaheri will need you once the babe arrives."

A soft crooning could be heard in the room, and perched high above on the top bunk, Rus was singing his welcome to the new arrival. "I really should let Causton know." she said. "Can you get me a note and pen?"
she asked Teene, anything to take the woman's mind off what she was about to witness.

"There's one -" Teene sighed, guessing that going next door and not coming back would be out of the question. "Or over here. Would you like me to write it? Or ..." Teene wasn't sure if there was enough time between contractions for Geni to write her own note.

"You'd better write it, but once this...." she felt her stomach tensing again, her hands gripped against the bindings again, puffing lightly.
"..is ...over ...I'll ...sign..." she managed, before her panting began.

Vaheri moved closer to the bed where Geni reclined. "Just concentrate on your breathing for now, that's all that's important." One of her hands gripped Geni's forearm, while the other massaged the protruding abdomen, judging from the muscular action she could feel the progress of the labor.

"Ooohh. That was a little..stronger than I expected." Geni managed as the pain eased again, "They're getting closer, yes?" Her faced was flushed and beads of sweat ran down her forehead and cheeks. "I don't know that I could go through this again." she admitted, her eyes shining with unshed tears, "it's getting to be a bit much."

"Uh-huh," Teene agreed. "You have a nice big family already."

"It always feels that way in the middle of labor," Vaheri told her, wiping the woman's brow with a cloth that had been soaking in a basin of cool water next to the bed. "Fortunately, after the baby is born, we forget most of this part."

Teene found that impossible to believe. _She_ certainly wasn't going to forget this. _Ever._

Geni could feel the pressure building again, "Another one." she gave a half apologetic smile to Teene, before puffing out the pain. She reached for the straps again, and pulled tightly on them, emitting a groan of discomfort as the pain eased once more. "The note to Causton?"
she asked finally.

"Right. I'm listening. Dictate away."

"Can you just write that the baby is coming early and could he come?"
she was trying hard to maintain a sense of composure, she hadn't shown her worry to the others; but she was finally admitting, if only to herself, that she was scared.

"All right." Teene concentrated on the note but the message was so short there wasn't much excuse after a few moments. "Done."

Vaheri's hand rested on Geni's abdomen, so that she could feel the upcoming contraction. "Signing it will need to wait a little longer."

"Russ..." the word and thought occurred at the same time, and the small bronze flit crooned from the top bunk. "Just slip it into the message capsule, and I'll let him know where to go." She watched as Teene moved over and did as instructed. The little bronze edged nearer and held still while the nursemaid quickly slipped the note inside the capsule.

Geni couldn't picture the Vintner Hall, but a firm image of Causton appeared in her mind and she sent warm, but urgent thoughts to the little bronze, who twittered in answer before disappearing from the room with a small 'pop'. Her attention was caught again as another pain rippled across her stomach and now, further down in her groin she could feel the pressure building. She looked to Vaheri, "I think its coming."
she ground out between her teeth.

"Alright, hold off until the next one. Control your breathing." As she spoke, Vaheri moved to the foot of the bed to check that all of the equipment she needed - not ideal healer's gear but good enough for most riverboat type medical needs - was ready for her. "Blow out, hold it back for this contraction - you can do it."

Teene watched and tried not to wince; this baby business was very hard work. She loved babies and children but was glad that they weren't _hers_.

Her mouth formed an 'O' as she puffed lightly through the heavy contraction, the pressure high in her abdomen increased, as did the pressure down below as the babies head began to crown. Her grip on the straps increased as well as she leaned forward, going with the pains now, to deliver the child. She looked form one woman to another and a feeling of immense power surged through her. "One more?" she asked, eyes locking with Vaheri's.

"This one should do it," Vaheri agreed, her hands ready to catch and guide the baby through the imminent birth.

"I hope so," Teene said fervently.

There was little break between the contractions now, and with another effort of will Geni tightened her grip on the straps and with a loud, empowering groan, she bore down and felt the babe begin to emerge. The baby's head and shoulders were pushed through with a little more effort, but then she felt the babe slip more easily once the bulk of the shoulders had been birthed.

With a silent sigh of relief that the birth had gone this smoothly, Vaheri took the tiny babe - small with the early birth but well-formed and of good color - and placed it on Geni's abdomen. "A girl. Let's get the afterbirth delivered and then I'll clean her." As she said the words, she took the pieces of string that she had set aside, wrapping one tightly around the umbilical cord fairly close to the babe's body, then another a short distance away. When both were knotted to her satisfaction, she used one of her sharpest kitchen knives to deftly slice the area between the two strings.

Geni lay back on the bed, a beatific smile on her face as she gazed down lovingly at the babe laying on her belly. "A girl..." she sighed happily, "... she's whole and healthy, do you think?" she asked Vaheri, not confident in her own assessment at the moment. She could feel the tension in her body as the placenta began its descent.

"She's wide awake," Teene offered hesitantly, rather surprised that it was so.

"She seems to be fine," Vaheri told the new babe's mother. "She's a bit small, but all seems to be as it should be." She glanced toward Teene.
"If you want, you can start cleaning her. Just wipe gently with one of those towels for now and we'll wash her later."

Teene hurried to do as she was told, much happier now there was something practical she could do to help. "She's adorable," the younger woman assured Geni as she worked.

"Take care of her Teene." Geni said wearily. She could feel pressure down below and began pushing again. The placenta was much easier to birth than the babe itself and she felt it slide from her quickly.
"Check to make sure it's intact!" she warned Vaheri.

"Of course," agreed the riverboat headwoman. She glanced at the placenta as she placed it into a basin. "All is well." She glanced up at Geni.
"If you can manage it, try to get the babe to suckle a little before you sleep."

Geni nodded slowly, and watched as Teene finished wrapping the newborn in the well used wraps she had had for the older children. "Neva." she said quietly, glancing from one woman to the other, "Her name is Neva.
For you both."

"It's a lovely name," Teene said, handing the babe to Geni. "And not just because some of mine's in there."

"It is a beautiful name," agreed Vaheri, "though it's not necessary to so honor us."

"Not necessary but its what I'd like to do, and I'm sure Causton would agree. You have both been so good to me." she smiled weakly, before reaching out her arms to take Neva from Teene.

Teene watched Geni with the baby and smiled too. Seeing them almost made her forget what Geni had gone through to give birth - almost, but not quite.

Last updated on the November 28th 2007

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Birthing Babies