Contractions

Writers: AL, Emma, Suzee
Date Posted: 5th May 2014

Characters: Cyradis, K'deren, Vandor
Description: Is it labor or not?
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 17 of Turn 7

Cyradis

K'deren

Vandor

She rolled over again trying to get comfortable and just couldn't.
She'd been tossing and turning for hours and even though she had
pillows aplenty. A deep sigh escaped her as the first lights of
morning began to filter into the weyr.

"Are you feeling alright?" K'deren had sat up in bed, and was ready to
go
fetch something or someone if his weyrmate needed it.

"I'll be okay," she smiled at him. "Just can't get comfortable." She
tried to sit up and when she touched her belly it was as hard as rock.
"Oh," she exclaimed. "Feel this," she reached for his hand.

"It, that's a contraction," a look of concern crossed his face. "But the
baby isn't due yet, is it?"

"Yes," she agreed. "It is. I don't think it's real labor though. But I
imagine this baby will be a bit early. My last couple have been."

"Are you sure? Should we go and get a healer to confirm it?" The concern
was
evident, as he reached out to grab a robe.

"Yes, of course," she smiled. "You're right. I tend to let this go
sometimes." She swung her feet over the edge of the bed.

He was ahead of her, his own robe on, and passing a robe to her.

Pulling the robe on she finger combed her hair out of her face and
tied it in a knot on the nape of her neck. Then she slipped her feet
into her slippers and started toward the door. "Better tell the
girls," she said and turned toward their room.

"Don't get them too excited, they might think we're going to come back
with
a baby brother or sister." K'deren had stepped into a loose pair of
sandals,
and was more than ready to accompany his beloved weyrmate to the
healers.

She smiled at him and went into the room the girls shared. "Girls,"
she said waking them up. "We're going down to the Infirmary because
I'm not feeling well. But we'll be back soon. Shadow will stay with
you and come get me if you need me, okay?"

They murmured in their sleep and the little brown flit took up his
duty station after she instructed him. "Alright," she said as another
contraction started.

"Is that a bad one?" K'deren asked as he reached out to put an arm
around
her.

"No," she said. "Just noticeable," she said rubbing her belly.

"Just as well we don't have far to go."

~*~

Only a few minutes later they'd arrived and she'd been shown into one
of the exam rooms. The contractions weren't regular but they had begun
to concern her. "How long since the last one," she asked K'deren.

"Maybe ten minutes?" he said after a moment.

She lay back on the pillows and tried to calm herself down. "This is
just too soon," she said under her breath.

"That's what they all say." Vandor entered the room, his teeth
shining with his broad smile. "I'm afraid the normal midwife is
attending another birth. Would it be all right if I attended you?"
There were other healers, of course, and Vandor wouldn't be offended
if she felt more comfortable with someone else.

"Yes, Of course Vandor," Cyradis smiled at the big healer.

"Good. Well then, let's have a look. I'm going to feel around your
belly, if that's all right. See how we are with these contractions."
Vandor was large, but his touch was, as always, gentle. His face
remained impassively interested as he examined the woman and nodded at
something thought to himself before he turned to an apprentice.
"Sharred, bring me a bottle of wine and a glass, if you would please."

Cyradis didn't' really like the sound of that but she nodded and slid
into position. She reached out to hold onto K'deren.

The brownmrider took his weyrmate's hand, trying to stay calm. "It'll be
all
right love, " he said softly.

Vandor pulled up a stool so that he was a little more on the level of
the mother as opposed to towering over her. "Cyradis, you're having
contractions and they don't seem to be the practise kind. Now, I know
it's earlier, but what I want you to do is have a glass of wine and
see if that helps."

"Are you sure?" She was confused. She had always been taught to stop
drinking alcohol when she was pregnant.

Perhaps Vandor had a touch of dragon in him, for he must have read her
mind - or perhaps her thought shown too plainly upon her lovely face.
"Yes, I know, unorthodox, but if you're having early labour, it's
possible to stop it by consuming alcohol. While your babe would be
early if born at this point, you're far enough along in pregnancy that
imbibing a bit won't bring harm to the child. I want you to drink a
single glass and we'll wait a few minutes to see how your body reacts.

Cyradis nodded and accepted the glass when it was offered to her. She
took a sip and was happy to note they hadn't given her swill at the
very least. She didnt' make quick work of it but did her best to
polish off the glass in fairly short order. "There," she said handing
off the glass to K'deren and smiling at the big healer.

She waited a few minutes and a few minutes more but there seemed to be
no more contractions.

Vandor kept a watch on the time and nodded after a good half hour had
passed. "All right, prescription time. Rest for the Weyrwoman. No
more
drills, I'd like you to stay off your feet as much as possible. I'm not
going to limit you to the bed at this time, but I will if I have to.
Think
of this as pelvic rest. No bending over, no lifting. Get volunteers to
wash and oil your dragon. If you feel contractions like this again,
drink a
glass of wine. If they continue after that glass, notify me
immediately."
A lot of orders tumbled from his lips, but Vandor returned the
goldrider's
smile to soften them. "I know, hard for a Weyrwoman to do, but it's in
the
best interest of the baby - and mother."

"All the kids will help me with Panitath, don't you worry," K'deren told
Cyradis. "And I'll get some candidates as well if we need them."

She took a deep breath and and nodded. It wasn't as bad as she'd feared
and her grip on K'deren loosened a little. All her pregnancies in the
past had gone flawlessly so this was new to her and she suddenly
realize how very much she wanted this baby. She smiled up at her
weyrmate. "Thank you. I really hate to unload more duties on Saibra
but I think she can handle it."

"Thank you Vandor."

Last updated on the June 2nd 2014

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Contractions