They drifted asleep with Jenna laying on top of Sam, listening to her heart beat. As sleep claimed them, Jenna mumbled softly “My wife.”
****
Later that same night a few miles away, Shawn was wakened at three in the morning by moans coming from Rebecca’s side of the bed. She blinked several times, trying to clear the cob webs. Is she having a sexy dream? She rolled to face her, reaching out her hand to touch her huge belly. Rebecca moaned again, even louder.
“Becca, baby wake up. Are you dreaming or are you in pain?” Shawn asked as she gently rubbed Rebecca’s arm.
She received no answer so she sat up and flipped the light on her side of the bed. She got up and walked around the bed, leaning down over Rebecca, gently shaking her. “Baby, wake up. Are you having pain?”
This time Rebecca responded with a sleepy whine “It hurts Shawn, its hurting me.”
Shawn was wide awake. “What’s hurting you honey? Were you dreaming or are you having pains now?”
Rebecca groaned again. “Oh God, I think I’m having a contraction!” She was wide awake now also. She was about to roll over to face Shawn when her eyes went wide open. “Shawn we have bigger problems than a contraction. My water just broke!”
Shawn flipped the overhead light on, whipping the covers back to inspect. “Well, you are correct. I’m calling the doctor now and we better head to the med center.” As she dialed the doctor’s after hours emergency number, Rebecca cried out.
“Shawn, oh God it hurts, it’s another contraction. They are too close together!” Rebecca’s eyes were wide with concern.
Shawn left a quick message with the doctor’s answering service, tossing the phone on the night stand. “Its okay baby let me take a look quick.” She leaned down and kissed Rebecca’s forehead. “I’m right here, I won’t let anything happen to you or the babies.”
She helped Rebecca roll to her back and positioned her legs. She reached for latex gloves from their medical bag that she had left by the wall. “Let me check quickly. If you’ve dilated too much already, I’m going to go ahead and call for an ambulance.” As she was about to attempt her check, Rebecca cried out as another contraction hit her. Shawn glanced at the alarm clock. Goddamnit, 3 minutes. She grabbed the phone and dialed 911.
She did not stay on the line with them, knowing that she knew how to deal with this situation better than they could instruct her over the phone. Her problem was she didn’t have the equipment she needed.
Rebecca was trying to stay calm, but tears were rolling down her face. She had been an OB nurse long enough to know that contractions three minutes apart and water breaking meant she most likely was dilated a considerable amount. She knew that’s why Shawn had abandoned trying to check her dilation and dialed 911 instead.
Shawn took Rebecca’s hand and smoothed her hair back. “Listen to me. I will not let anything happen to you ok? I promise you. I have to run down to unlock the front door for EMS and I will be right back. I love you Becca.” She sprinted down the stairs, unlocking the door, flipped on the front porch light and ran back upstairs.
“Shawn!! I can feel the pressure. I have to push!” Rebecca was crying now.
“Don’t you dare push yet!” Shawn said as she grabbed a blanket from the closet and with one arm she lifted Rebecca’s hips, sliding the blanket under her with the other. “You don’t push until I tell you that you can!” She grabbed the medical bag and tossed it on the end of the bed within her reach and positioned Rebecca’s legs again. She grabbed all of the pillows from her side of the bed and jammed them quickly behind Rebecca’s back, forcing her into a partially upright position. Please let them get here quickly, I don’t think I can deliver twins with no help!
She gently assessed Rebecca’s cervix and could feel one of the baby’s heads pressing tightly against it. Rebecca doubled over with another contraction. She reached up and grabbed Rebecca’s hand. “Squeeze my hand baby and breathe with me ok? You’re completely dilated and one of their head’s is crowning so I need you to push on the next contraction ok?”
Rebecca shook her head. “You are one of the best OB nurses I have ever met Shawn. I know you will take care of us. I love you.”
Another contraction came quicker than before and as it did, Rebecca grabbed her legs and pushed with everything she had until it let up. She collapsed back against the pillows, sweat running down her forehead.
“Okay honey, one more good push like that and the shoulders will be out ok? I’m holding the head right now baby.” She turned her head to wipe the tears with her own shoulder. “The baby looks like you Becca.” She glanced up locking eyes with Rebecca.
Rebecca started to cry, but another contraction hit and she bent forward pushing with it. Falling back exhausted against the pillows again she heard Shawn’s voice “She’s here baby, Isabella is here!” The announcement was followed by a sharp newborn cry.
Voices from downstairs came as the EMS crew thudded up the stairs and hurried into the bedroom. Shawn quickly gave them her assessment but made no move to let them take over. “Twenty nine year old female, thirty three weeks pregnant with twins with no medical history. As you can clearly see, our daughter has already made her appearance…” She was cut off as Rebecca cried out as a contraction took hold.
“Son of a .. why are they in such a hurry to get out?” She gritted out between her teeth. One paramedic stepped to the head of the bed to support her back.
Shawn quickly handed the little girl
