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 Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:44 pm
"No, I'm her friend," Keeta replied, not certain whether she should read anything into the emphasis that had been placed on the word.
"I'm not sure I know enough to help you," Keeta continued, uncertain. "But I'll tell you what I do know. This is Jiao'lan Banku. Her partner is Ke'rehl, who is currently away on travel. Her pregnancy is considered to be high-risk and she has been in labor for somewhere around eight or nine hours. And I think she's far enough along to be considered full term...." she looked at Jiao'lan for at least a nod of confimation on these last two statements. Keeta hoped her friend was coherant enough to have been listening to the conversation. She reached out a hand and gently squeezed her shoulder as she saw her tense posture.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:55 pm
Jiao'lan gave a nod. "This could kill me...me mate's huge compared t'me." She moaned. "They said I can't have any meds...I DON'T CARE I WANT SOME!" She all but whined. "It hurts...SO BAD." She was sobbing, now.
"Has your water broken, Jiao'lan?" Mellanie asked. "I dunno..." She managed. "Well, here's your room...would you like to get into the birthing tub? The warm water might make you feel better. But we can wait until this contraction's over and I cheque how dilated you are." She explained. Jiao'lan merely nodded, as if the harder she did so the sooner the contraction would end.
She seemed to relax a little more as the pain started to recede and then was gone completely. The nurse put on a glove. "Can you put you feet together and let your knees fall to the side?" She asked. Jiao'lan did as told. "A lot of pressure..." she said as she felt for her effacement and dilation. Jiao'lan sucked in a breath and made a small grunt. "Six centimetres, and ninety percent effaced." She announced as she removed her hand and disposed of her glove.
"Here...I'll get you into bed so you can rest while the tub fills up and I cheque your chart." She said warmly as she helped her up and over to a freshly made bed. Jiao'lan burrowed under the bedclothes, "Thank-you...so much." She murmured, almost asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Mellanie looked to Keeta. "Are you going to be staying with her?" She asked as she walked into the adjoining bathroom and began to run the water in the large, spa tub.
"And I'm sorry if I used any inflection when I asked your relation to Mrs. Ban'ku...I'm afraid if I make the wrong assumption some people get quite cross. Especially about the inference of homosexuality." She explained sheepishly.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:08 pm
Keeta stood paitently by as Mellanie helped Jiao'lan into the bed and checked her progress. It seemed she was at least halfway there from that assessment, although her mother never had used such technical terms when she had helped deliver babies in Evin. Joel's delivery was about the only time she had heard those terms before. Keeta looked up at Mellanie as she addressed her.
"Yes I plan on staying with her if that's alright, seeing as Ke'rehl isn't here. I would hate to leave her alone..." she said her gaze traveling towards the resting figure of Jiao'lan.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:19 pm
"Oh that's more than all right." She said, smiling. "In fact, I was hoping you'd stay." The nurse said. "I'll be right back...I just need to grab her file." She said. "Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink?" Mellanie paused. "If she needs something, likewise, let me know. I shouldn't be gone more than five minutes." She added before heading out of the room.
Jiao'lan had fallen into a deep slumber,yet again, and for once looked quite relaxed.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 9:37 pm
Keeta had shaken her head when Mellanie had offered to get her something. She was too wound up and preoccupied to think about eating. Briefly she played with the idea of popping through the mirror to the island to give the kids and the others there a calmer, more through explanation, now that Jiao'lan was safe. As she watched Jiao'lan resting, however, Keeta decided against it. She wouldn't want to have appeared to have abandoned her while she was sleeping.
Sighing, Keeta pulled up a chair next to the bed and took a moment just to let her nerves unwind somewhat. She was grateful for the opportunity and used the time wisely. There was no telling what the next several hours might bring.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 4:38 pm
Jiao’lan had been in a deep sleep for about three minutes when her eyes snapped open and she violently arched her back as a screaming moan tore from her lips. After she had straightened out completely, she curled into a ball onto herself as tightly as her taut and distended abdomen would allow. Pain was coursing through her loins and back causing her to feel as if she were being split in half. Still somewhat groggy from sleep, terror shone in her eyes. Her cries echoed through the vacant, tiled corridors of the clinic, as a cold sweat beaded her brow. She could barely see, feel, or think of anything but the mind-numbing, blood-curdling pain.
While the earlier pressure of the amniotic sac was gone, since her water had broken her contraction had greatly intensified. The one thought that kept nagging her was to get away from the source of her pain, so she moved around on the king-sized mattress, but of course, her child and thundering uterus move with her.
This contraction was lasting far longer than the others had. She was nearly to the point of toppling over the edge of the bed and onto the floor, close to delirium. Mellanie rushed inm the file held under her arm. “What are you feeling, Jiao’lan?” She asked, brows knitting with worry. She opened her mouth to reply and a hoarse squeaking, scream was all she could manage. The nurse ran for a box of gloves and slipped one on. “I need you to try and hold still.” She said gently before looking to Keeta. “Can you hold her shoulders please, it’s imperative that I cheque her dilation.” The woman explained.
She pressed her fingers behind the damp, coarse feathers again and Jiao’lan screamed, a talloned foot striking out, purely on instinct. Mellaine dodged it and used her forearm to hold the very small woman’s feet to the mattress. It looked like she had done that many times before. “Okay…you’re eight and a half…almost there…let’s get you into the tub, shall we?” She asked gently as she leaned back and disposed of her glove.
“We can wait until that contraction’s over if you’d like.” That elicited a furious, vertebrae shattering nod from Jaio’lan.
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 5:31 pm
Keeta's eyes opened wide in surprise as Jiao'lan screeched in pain. Well, so much for having her rest peacefully. She was about to try and soothe the pained woman when Mellanie came tearing through the door. Keeta couldn't deny she was realived to have someone here who knew better what she was doing, although it made her feel slightly in the way.
As soon as Mellanie asked for her help, however, Keeta moved into position and held down Jiao'lan's shoulders with a firm, but gentle grip. She tried to smile at Jiao'lan, but did her friend really want a smile when she was in so much pain?
When Mellanie declared that Jiao'lan was now 8.5 cm dialated, Keeta couldn't hide her surprised expression. Jiao'lan had progressed rapidly in the short time they had been here. Was it really wise to move her to a tub now? That is unless of course Jiao'lan wanted to give birth in water. Keeta knew some women did that, athough Keeta hadn't had the impression that that is what the plan was for her friend. She frowned, but held her thoughts to herself. After all, she was not a trained midwife and Mellanie was.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:24 pm
Jiao'lan's breathing slowed a bit, her muscles still tensed. "Jiao'lan? The water won't make the pain stop...but it'll help relax the muscles." Mellanie explained. "I've got the tub full. Unless a doctor shows up...you've got me." She explained.
"Now, I've delivered hundreds of lill' ones of all walks of life. I'm sure I can handle a cute lill' bundle of fluff that you're expecting." She smiled gently and rubbed the Keikancho-Jin's knee, her eyes shining with elicted a very very slight cross between a smile and a grimace from the feathered woman.
"Now, like any baby, they don't breathe until their little faces touch air...so you don't need to worry about him or her drowning..." she explained. Jiao'lan nodded and started to ease herself off of the bed. Mellanie took her cue to help support her as the two of them shuffled, slowly toward the tub. Jiao'lan started to tense as they reached the porcelain edge and Mellaline scooped her up and eased her into the water.
Her brows knitted harshly as her face contorted once more. Mellanie knelt next to the tub and offered her hand. Jiao'lan gripped it as if her life depended on it, and a groaning gasp rose from her throat. "Feels a tiny bit better, doesn't it?" Mellanie soothed.
All she got in reply was a furious nod.
Mellanie set her jaw firmly as her fingers were smashed together. She took a deep breath through her nose before speaking. "Any clue as to where Mr. Shan'ro is?" She asked, Keeta.
"That's it...s'rising to the top of it...won't get much worse...atta girl. Beautiful..." Mellanie praised as she dampened a cloth and mopped at her brow.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:41 pm
"I know he was out of town...that's about it," Keeta replied, her eyes fixed on Jiao'lan's tormented face. She wondered if Joel's birth would have been this bad for her without the numbing medication the doctors had administered.
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, feeling a bit like a voyeur, just standing there.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:07 pm
Mellanie nodded to Keeta. "Stay with her while I look and see if there was any contact information...separate to Jiao'lan's for her mate." The woman said, moving farther away from Jiao'lan but still allowing the other woman to grasp her hand. The contraction was still building, she sunk lower in the water so that only her head was above it and it enveloped her like a cocoon.
Tears began sliding down her face, as she took what appeared to be almost frantic gulps of air. "Make it..." She cringed. "Ohhh, MAKE IT STOP!" She arched her back, the back of her downy feathers and the tips of her red and black plumes getting wet.
She was starting to panic and feel desperate. "I know you Gaian doctors have stuff to. make. it. stop!" She all but cried. The contraction was slowly winding down now. She hung her arms and head over the edge of the circular tub and started sobbing. "K-K-Keeta...I-I'm s-sorry...b-but p-p-p-please...make her make it stop..." She sniffled a bit.
"I-I want m-m-my L-L-Leifusa...K-Ke'rehl...m-my b-b-baby...I-I want it t-t-to s-stop, and I-I j-j-just want m-my baby..."
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:17 pm
Keeta took over for Mellanie, taking Jiao'lan's hand so the midwife could leave. She swallowed heavily, not knowing what to do. Jiao'lan herself had said earlier that she couldn't have medication for the pain. Despite the helplessness she was feeling inside, Keeta had to put on a brave face for her friend.
"Shhh...." Keeta said soothingly, squeezing Jiao'lan's hand and gently moving damp feathers out of her face, as if they were strands of hair. She wasn't sure what a Leifusa was, but she didn't think now was the time to be asking.
"I know. I know. Soon they'll be here. Just a little longer and it'll all be over. You'll hold your baby in your arms and Ke'rehl will be there next to you...you'll all be smiling and happy...."she spoke in low tones, hoping the mental pictures and quiet voice would help soothe her friend.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 7:06 pm
She let out a soft sound, it was hard to tell wether it was frustration, fear, or lingering pain. "I-I'mma be one meself soon...I-I hope..." She gasped. "My...I'm gonna be a...." She clung to the sides of the tub to support herself as she began to cry. "I want her...I want her to see...t-to know...but-she-won't-love-me-anymore!" She wiped at her eyes fiercely, splashing a tiny bit of water. "I-I-I'll...be a...a...I dunno the Gaian wooooooord!" She exclaimed. "The closer I-I-I come to b-b-being a...L-L-Leifusa..." Her shoulders were trembling terribly now. "T-T-The c-c-closer I am to loosing m-m-m-mine!"
Jiao'lan seemed to be almost hyperventilating just before her face screwed up in pain. She felt like she'd be split in half. "Oaah...." She clenched her jaw before sputtering a bit. "I'm scared! Oh-I'm-scared-I'm-scared-I'm-scared-I'm-scared-I'M SCAAARED!" She rolled onto her hip slightly and clung to her friend, her arms wrapped frantically, but not tightly, about her neck and shoulders, half of her body was out of the water and she was on her knees due to their height difference.
A scream tore from her throat, which had the sound of shoes clicking in a hurried pace on the tile as Mellanie rushed back into the room. Jiao'lan let go of Keeta and laid back in the tub. "Burns, burns, OH DEAR GODS ABOVE IT BURNS!" Mellanie, shouldered her way close enough after slipping on a glove. "Sorry..." She murmured to Keeta. "Let me see what's happening..." The midwife added sweetly to Jiao'lan. She went to check her dilation when Jiao'lan shied away from her touch so much that she nearly went to the other end of the tub. "Hey...sweetheart....I have to look...I'll be gentle as I can..." she soothed as she felt something that made her eyes go wide as saucers. The woman kept her face hidden by her hair. "That's a tail..." She breathed.
"Jiao'lan." She said seriously. "S'getting ready to come out tail first..." She explained, fighting to keep her voice steady as she used her ungloved hand to push her hair out of her face as she looked the Keikancho-Jin in the eye. "You can't push yet." She added, stressing each word carefully. "You're not dilated anymore and pushing will make things..." She tried to find the best word to use. She wanted to say 'worse' but knew that'd frighten her. "Very hard on the baby. Do you understand?" She asked. Jiao'lan nodded, brows knitted, face beet red. "B-But..." She let out a yelp. "I GOTTA!" Mellanie leaned forward and took the mother-to-be's chin in her ungloved hand. "I know...it's hard...pant." She said.
"Like a dog..." The midwife did it a few times for instruction.
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:45 pm
Keeta felt helpless as her friend cried out in mental and emotional enguish, in addition to the physical pain she was going through. She made general conforting noises, trying to keep her friend calm, even as Jiao'lan wrapped her wet feathers around Keeta's shoulders. She didn't know what to do. Or even if there was something she could do.
While in a calmer situation Keeta might have been able to make sense of Jiao'lan's unfamiliar words, but right now it was just nonsensical babble to her overtaxed brain. This was becoming a frightening situation made only moreso when Jiao'lan screamed out in pain yet again.
Mellanie returned only to report that the baby was breech. Keeta knew surgery was the typical emergency procedure in that situation...but this wasn't a typical situation. To Keeta it felt like the day was heading into an uncontrolled spiral which she was powerless to stop. Keeta felt herself growing light-headed and her eyes started to swim with tears of fear, confusion and helplessnes.
Knowing she couldn't stay in the room and remain in control, she stepped towards the door. At the opening, she turned and tried to give an exuse, but found herself only able to stutter out a few words.
"I...I can't..." Not staying to see what Jiao'lan's reaction might be, she moved out into the hallway. Leaning her back against the wall, she slid to the floor, held her head in her hands and cried silently.
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:04 pm
Mellanie noticed Keeta leaving and merely nodded, catching the gist of what she was trying to convey. In all honestly, she didn't blame her. With this particular case most her training had gone out the window and she was there for moral support than anything. "Keep going...good girl...oh I know...just...ah, yes..." She said as Jiao'lan blew as if her life depended on it, sputtering a bit as she did so.
"Perfect...amazing...." She continued to use quite strong terms of praise. If it were she, Mellanie was certain she'd be clinging to the ceiling, and pushing anyway.
Speaking of which, she heard a grunting sound before she realised what was going on. "Jiao'lan...Jiao'lan...focus...I need you to stay with me and not push...keep going...blow, blow...yes...oh, sweety, I know it's hard..." She soothed as she offered both of her hands to the labouring woman.
Jiao'lan took them gratefully and exerted quite a bit of force for such a tiny woman. The nurse-midwife had seen quite a few difficult deliveries but she had never dealt with a tail first breech. The buttocks always had presented and she wasn't quite sure how to handle the actual delivery. She also hadn't had to coach a labouring mother through not pushing for more than five minutes. She knew, eventually, Jiao'lan wouldn't be able to help herself due to instinct and pain screaming at her.
Mellanie tried to keep her face straight as her eyes welled with tears from the death grip on her hands. 'Please...hurry and dilate!' She thought.
'And help me get this kid out safely...' She added grimly as an afterthought.
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:46 pm
Her body shuddered slightly hearing her friend's continued anguished cries. Would it never end for Jiao'lan?
Keeta was conflicted between rushing back in there, full of apologies and trying to comfort her friend and just letting herself be as upset as she wanted to be. Because for all the good intentions in the world, there was nothing she could to to speed or ease the process of having a difficult delivery. And she just couldn't stand there and watch Jiao'lan suffer. She only hoped her cowardace would be forgiven when it was all over.
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