Page 47 of Mate Match: Curtis & Jae
“Jae? Now that your water has broken, I need to check you again. Would you mind coming up onto the bed?”
Curtis helped me climb up. Rather than go onto my back, which ached something fierce, I went onto my knees, clinging to the high back of the bed, my butt raised from the mattress.
“Perfect position. If you want to push like this, gravity will help things along. Well done for going with your instincts,” Erika praised. Trevor monitored the gas and air, making sure I didn’t take too much and get sick.
“Oh, that’s lovely. You’re fully dilated. Do you mind Trevor doing an exam?” I shook my head. The trainee omega midwife went to Erika’s side. “See? Put your fingers here… feel?”
I didn’t pay attention to them, too focused on my body and the almost unbearable need to bear down.
“Erika! I think I need to push!”
“Go with it,” Erika coached. “Follow your body’s lead.”
Time made no sense. All I knew was pain and the need to push this baby out. We were so close.
I felt the baby’s head crown.
“Wait! No pushing until I check.” Erika examined the baby, making sure the cord wasn’t around their neck and it was safe to continue. “Okay, next contraction, I want you to give the biggest push!”
It took a few more agonizing contractions, but the euphoria when the baby slid free was incredible.
“Congratulations, daddies! You have a baby boy!”
Erika cleaned him up, and he made his first cry. It was the most beautiful thing in the world!
“Well done, Jae! You’re amazing. I love you so much. Both of you!” Curtis had tears running down his face as he clung to me.
Trevor came to me with a loosely wrapped baby. “Here you go daddy, meet your baby.”
I turned so he could place him on my chest. I’d lost my shirt after overheating.
“Hello, little one, it’s nice to meet you!” I felt the wetness on my cheeks, but didn’t care. My baby looked up at me, unseeing, but recognizing my voice as they lay skin to skin.
Curtis kissed me, then our baby. “Perfect. Both of you.”
The moment was blissful until Erika caught my attention. Curtis was having his turn with our baby. Like me, he’d lost his shirt so he could hold him close, getting that skin to skin contact to help them bond.
“Could we take your son to weigh him and start his paperwork?”
“Of course.”
“Jae? I’m worried about how much blood you’re passing and you’ve still got the rest of the placenta to go. How about you get on your knees again? Maybe the change in position will help.”
I did as she suggested and pretty quickly she was smiling at me as the placenta slipped out. So disgusting, but also a miracle.
“Do you consent to cord blood samples being taken?”
“Yes.” I’d already discussed it with Curtis.
“Great! Well, you did fantastically. Little one is in excellent health, all seven pounds and ten ounces of him. We’ll get you a snack, maybe some toast and then move you to your room for the night. You can go home in the morning, okay? Visitors can come for the evening hour, but I’d prefer it if you waited until you got home.”
“Yeah, me too. I like having Curtis here, though. Does he have to go home?”
“No, there’s room on the bed for him. Do you have a name for the baby yet?”
Curtis beamed. “His name is Leo.”
Twenty One
