|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:07 pm
Keeta didn't understand Jiao'lan's logic about the hospital not being close enough when it was just a trip through the mirror like it would have been to the clinic, but she didn't consider it wise to disagree with a woman in labor, so she held her tongue. Instead she took one of Jiao'lan's hands in another gesture of reassurance.
At her friend's question, Keeta shrugged. "I honestly don't know. On their answering machine they always tell you to call emergency services in an emenrgency, but we can't even do that. If it comes back on here, however, I can try going through the mirror again and see if I can't find a phone number or something at the clinic." She stroked Jiao'lan's head feathers as her friend seemed to try and relax. If Jiao'lan could sleep between contractions it might be good for her. She looked so tired....
"How long have you been in labor?" Keeta asked softly in case Jiao'lan had already drifted off. She didn't want to disturb her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:10 pm
"M'judging by the position of the sun when I got up...round seven or so, I s'pose." She murmured. Her breathing began to become more even and shallow, and for a few minutes she had dropped into the lowest level of sleep. Jiao'lan gave a jerk and rolled herself to her hands and knees with a moan. She settled into the slow and steady motion she had found to be a little less painful. This time, however, she was attempting to sob and moan at the same time. So much contributed to this.
Pain, fear, and exhaustion.
After five solid, grueling minutes, her arms shaking, she eased herself back down. Her mind had taken to the fancy of a soak in warm water. Lord only knew, due to her stature her bathtub would be like a spa tub to Gaians of regular height. Then she remembered and her eyes welled again.
She had the hope of some relief but it was snatched away.
"The crabs...the ******** crabs...I forgot..." She said, wanting to cry again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:22 pm
Keeta almost breathed a sigh of relief when Jiao'lan apparently drifted off. Since seven...and it was near one now...so 6 hours. It could go on for much longer than that. Keeta wished she had a better idea of how to tell how far along in the process her friend was. She knew you could time the contractions, but all that would tell her is they were getting closer to the end goal. That part was kind of obvious. But Keeta wanted to know how much closer.
She frowned slightly in sympathy as Jiao'lan experienced another contraction, that seemed to be more intense than the previous one. In fact she seemed to be incoherant. What did crabs have to do with anything?
"Crabs?" she tried to ask as nonchalantly as she could. Last thing she needed to do was upset Jiao'lan by suggesting she wasn't entirely 'together' at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:29 pm
"I-I had saved up...I bought frozen fish, dried deer meat, fruits, baked goods, and a few live crabs. I-I wanted them to stay fresh so I ran some water and have been feeding them to keep them in good order for when Ke'rehl got home." She explained, her brows furrowing.
"I wish I hadn't." Jiao'lan added.
There were three of them and they'd be too large to fit comfortably in the sink, but at this point Jiao'lan was past caring about a food item's pleasure. She reasoned she could be selfish, to an extent, for one day. To food, she'd damn well be!
"Ke'rehl'd never had them. We'd have them a lot for breakfast...they were everywhere on our part of the island..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:35 pm
Keeta still wasn't following Jiao'lan's line of thought. Ok...so she had bought some crabs, now she knew the reason for the mentioning of them, but why did they matter right now? And why did she regret getting them, aside from the fact that they needed to be cared for? Keeta had no idea that the crabs had been stored in the bathtub, or that Jiao'lan had a mind to take a long soak.
"Do....you want me to go feed them?" she asked uncertainly, not really believing that was the source of Jiao'lan's anxiety.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:39 pm
Jiao'lan sighed. "No...the stupid things are in the tub. Mind filling the sink, please? I'm gonna get 'em outta there...I think a soak'd do me good right about now." She explained. "Well, or I hope, rather..." She said sheepishly as she pushed herself to her feet and did a slow, shuffling waddle as she headed to the bathroom to fetch them.
They were fairly large in size compared to the tiny woman, but she could handle them easily enough, especially with their pincers taped together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:45 pm
Keeta slapped her palm to her forehead. Of course! She sighed and grinned sheepishly, as she headed out the doorway to the kitchen.
"Now why didn't I think of that? I've heard it helps a lot of women in labor...although I can't vouch for it personally." She immeditalely located the sink and started filling both sides with cold water. When it was full she headed to the bathroom to intercept Jiao'lan.
"Let me take those. The last thing you need to be doing while in labor is carrying around live crustaceans."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:53 pm
"Their claws is taped...s'not a big de-" She sank to her knees and all but dropped the crabs back into the bathtub and held the edge as she folded onto herself a bit. Jiao'lan's face contorted almost grotesquely as she cried out, actually vocalising this time. The amniotic sac was bulging ever so slightly causing quite a lot of pressure and some burning. She was trembling.
She could barely think let alone move. If birth got worse than this she didn't want any part of it!
The sac was holding her cervix open, so if it were to rupture she wouldn't be very dilated and they'd have more than enough time on their hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:57 pm
"Jiao'lan?" Keeta asked, dropping next to her and rubbing her back with concern. When would the damn power come back on so they could get her some help?
"You sure you don't want me to try and get you to the hospital?" She bit on her lower lip, her own anxiety finally beginning to show itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:04 pm
As the contraction wound down she began to sob hysterically. "I-I'm d-d-done!" She said. Jaio'lan was worn down completely. "I'm s-s-scared! I-I-I'm s-scared f-for my b-b-baby...e-e-everything's g-g-going wrong!"
A faint whirring sound could be heard from the bedroom as the ceiling fan started. The refrigerator hummed rather loudly as it built up it's power. for a few moments, before going silent as current coursed through it's wires.
There was a cool breeze coming from the vent in the wall. She was far too stressed to notice, however.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:15 pm
Keeta felt ready to cry too, because there was nothing she could do for her friend. She couldn't make the pain go away, she couldn't ensure a safe delivery. Heck, she apparently couldn't even get a hold of someone who could offer those things.
As if on cue, the moment Keeta began wishing for the power to return, there it was. She felt the breeze as she made her pittiful attempts at soothing Jiao'lan. She looked around, expecting to find an open window, but seeinfg none. Then she noticed a clock flashing.
"Jiao'lan....I think the power is back...." she said softly, not wanting to excite the other woman too much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:20 pm
"Oh, praise the souls of the sky!" She exclaimed, crying again but this time it was tinged with joy. "Please...please, can we find some way to get to the clinic?" She asked, hoping that once they got there things would get better.
Jiao'lan wasn't sure, but she had heard some women at the clinic birthed there 'natrually' and chose this option. So she came to two conclusions. The first, that she probably wasn't 'doing it right', the birthing. Or the second, there was some herb or something they had at the clinic that didn't qualify as 'modern medicine' that would make everything at least feel better.
She assumed the first and prayed to whatever deity she could think of that the latter held true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:24 pm
"Well let me call there first. I don't expect anyone would be there yet, but we can leave a message and let them know we're coming. And if no one's there by the time we get there I can get inside and see if I can't find a number to call. Will you be ok for a minute while I call the clinic and then get us a cab? Unless you have a different mode of transportation you would prefer?" she asked standing and inching towards the doorway while she waited for Jiao'lan's verdict.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:38 pm
She nodded. "Haven't died yet..." She said in a weak attempt at humour. "Might just hurt a little... or a lot depending on how long you take but...I'd do the same with you right here." The woman reasoned. "I don't think the baby's goin' anywhere yet." She added. "A cab's wonderful, but you could drag me there by my tail and I'd go for it."
When she wasn't contracting she had a minute trace of personality. She was still utterly knackered but, it couldn't be helped. Her mind kept drifting to her mate. He was supposed to touch down on Gaian soil any day now.
She dearly had hoped he'd be here with her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:50 pm
Keeta's expression was grim in response to Jiao'lan's comment. She didn't find it terribly funny. People had and did die giving birth and it wasn't something she took lightly.
Frowning, but nodding, she stepped from the room and headed for the nearest phone. Fortunately the line was live, but it took her a couple tries to get through. It appeared she wasn't the only one trying to make a call now that the power was back.
As she had suspected, when she got through to the clinic, no one was there. But it was clear the power was on at the because the machine picked up. She heard that same message about calling emergency services in an emergency. Is that what she should be doing? Jiao'lan was clearly in quite a state, but she said she didn't want to go to the hospital. Keeta would respect her wishes unless it got to the point where she knew her friend's life was in danger. If it got there, Keeta would do whatever she felt she had to, to get Jiao'lan and the baby safe.
She left a message at the tone, warning about their impending arrival, before calling a cab. The operator, at hearing the tone of her voice seemed to sense that this ride was urgent, despite Keeta not revealing the exact nature of the call. She was worried that the cab company might refuse to send someone, which would pretty much leave an ambulance as the only option. Finally after 10 minutes or so, she returned to the bathroom.
"Ok...a cab is on its way and I've left a message at the clinic. No one seems to be there though, as I expected."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
