Baby Rest?

Writers: Emma, Miriah
Date Posted: 19th January 2015

Characters: D'hol, K'deren
Description: D'hol and K'deren discuss baby facts.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 27 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, Jeyme

D'hol

K'deren

D'hol looked at his wingsecond as he took off his helmet, lips
thinned. "A bit sluggish, K'deren." His brows were lowered as he
tucked his helmet under his arm. "And you look tired." One brow
arched. "What's going on?"

The temptation to shoot his wingleader a dirty look was rapidly squashed. He
had to know that Kendran had either him, or both him and Cyradis up during
the nights. Sometimes the baby needed his mother to feed him, other times a
clean nappy, and sometimes just to know that someone was there to reassure
him.

"Kendran," he said after a moment. "He woke us up twice last night."

Though Jeyme was pregnant, he had little knowledge of children or how
they behaved; he was far more experienced with other matters. "Oh."
D'hol frowned. "Does this happen often?"

That got a soft laugh. "Twice was lucky. Sometimes if he doesn't settle
he'll have one or both of us up half a dozen times."

"And babies do this often?" There was a bit of trepidation in his
voice, as though he was beginning to realize that his sleep might be
interrupted in the future.

"Until they learn to sleep through the night, for some that can take up to
eighteen months like Kedon. but Deralie slept through from about four
months," K'deren said after a moment. "But it does get better once they're
old enough to be fostered most of the time."

"Eighteen months?" D'hol stared at him for a long moment. "That seems...a
bit unreasonable."

"You try telling that to a child not old enough to understand his parents
just want some sleep. He would nap during the day, so it didn't bother him
at all."

D'hol wasn't able to hide the faint look of dismay at the prospect of his
sleep getting disturbed. "And you're telling me that this is what I have to
look forward to?"

"Yes," K'deren said honestly. "But there are good things too, like their
first real smile for you, or when they just laugh at something and you see
the look on their face. Or when they first call you 'Da'."

There was still a frown on his face as he took that in. "I'm afraid that I
can't picture it. Not yet." He had missed Kielya's baby years and apparently
his son's as well. "Kielya's easier to deal with. She talks. I know what she
wants. "

"It's almost guesswork at first," K'deren admitted. "Until you learn
what their cries mean, you just have to see if they are hungry, or
wet."

K'deren was the last person D'hol expected to be getting child advice
from. "Shard's man, do you ever get any rest?"

"When they sleep, and they do eventually."

D'hol's face was deeply set in a frown. "Do you not use foster mothers
when they are that small? Surely you don't have the time or the energy
for all that. I know I do not." He would have to discuss the matter
with Jeyme. As much as he wanted his child close, he couldn't afford
the lack of rest during drills and Fall. Nor could she.

"We do have a foster mother," pointed out K'deren. "But until they are ready
for that, and even then sometimes you want them close."

"I'll have to speak to Jeyme further about these matters." D'hol spoke his
thoughts aloud. He doubted that he would have K'deren's patience with late
night cries.

"An I'd speak to the headwoman as well. She'll be able to help out with the
names of some foster mothers."

D'hol nodded. "I'll do that. Thank you, K'deren. I suppose I can
understand now why you are so exhausted."

Last updated on the February 11th 2015

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