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"I°Y l L—ec ✓� � <br /> vVLA' <br /> Labor <br /> D�c�wt� 2�3 <br /> The birthing tub was full and I climbed in, everyone's hands supporting me. I laid back in <br /> the water, enjoying the momentary space between my body clenching down around my womb- <br /> trying to force him out. My time in this peace was cut short. <br /> I felt Pat slip in behind me. He had taken off his clothes and clambered in, shoving <br /> himself between me and the edge of the bath. I opened my eyes to see my sister looking <br /> awkwardly into the distance, at the clock,the instruments, anywhere but at my naked husband. <br /> "Wait, wait,"Maureen pressed her stethoscope against an ear,head cocked. Her other <br /> hand held the heart rate monitor, "hang on- it looks like his heart rate is dropping." <br /> "What?What does that mean?"I wasn't sure if it was my voice, my sister's, or Pat who <br /> asked. <br /> "Oh,"she smiled with her grandmotherly wisdom, "it's no big deal- happens all the time. <br /> Let's just get you out and onto the bed-just to get a better reading." <br /> I can 1, I can 1 possibly-I need to just do this. Together, they helped me back out of the <br /> tub and supported my wilting body as I doubled over in a massive contraction, pushing against <br /> my own will, standing in the middle of the room.I just need you out- I pleaded with my son, <br /> just-please. <br /> I laid on the bed on my side,sweating. Weakly, I called out, "Sarah.." <br /> She was there,beside me. I gripped her hand and held on. Don t leave. <br /> "Oh, look," Maureen cooed from somewhere far away, "here is is. Put your hand down <br /> and touch him." <br /> I reached between my legs and felt a hard,hairy knob. I looked up at Sarah's face. She <br /> was smiling and crying, she looked down at me and nodded. Okay. Okay. I can do this. <br /> Taking as deep a breath as I could muster, I beared down through the next contraction, <br /> pushing until I truly thought my lungs were going to fall out with everything else. I shredded into <br /> pieces- a million napalm butterflies erupting from my body. His head was out, a tiny baby yell <br /> met my ears. Then, the pain that was so quick and devastating was immediately soothed by the <br /> cold slosh of the rest of him tumbling into the world. <br /> Maureen placed the baby on my chest, still sticky with our shared effort, saying, "You did <br /> good, look at him-this is your son." <br />