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The contraction seemed to build instead of easing. Mama squeezed Daddy’s hand harder, and then the machine beside the bed started making a sound I hadn’t heard before. The nurse looked at it, and I did too. She stepped closer to the monitor and watched the screen for a few seconds before moving toward Mama.
“Eternity, I want you to turn onto your left side for me.”
Mama opened her eyes.
“Why?”
“We’re going to change your position.”
Daddy looked from the nurse to the monitor.
“Why?” he asked.
The nurse helped Mama turn before answering him.
“Baby’s heart rate came down during that contraction. Sometimes changing Mom’s position helps.”
My stomach tightened.
“What you mean it came down?” Daddy asked.
“It dipped with the contraction. We’re watching it.”
Mama looked terrified.
“Is my baby okay?”
The nurse watched the monitor for a few more seconds, and I found myself staring at her face instead of the screen. I didn’t know what any of the numbers meant. I only knew I wanted her expression to change. Finally, she nodded.
“There he goes. His heart rate is coming back up.”
Mama let out the breath that she had been holding. Daddy kissed the back of her hand. “See? He’s good. She just said his heart rate came back up.”
Mama looked at the nurse again.
“So, he’s okay?”
“Right now, his heart rate has recovered. We’re going to keep a close eye on him.”
Mama’s water had broken, but she wasn’t fully dilated yet to deliver. Hearing that news, I should’ve felt relieved. Instead, I watched the nurse continue staring at the monitor, and something about the way she stayed there made it impossible for me to relax.
A second nurse came into the room a few minutes later. Then the doctor came in and introduced herself before asking Mama questions about when the pain started, when her water broke, what the fluid looked like, and whether she’d felt the baby moving normally before labor began. Mama answered everything between breaths. The doctor checked her and told her she was progressing.
“How much longer?” Mama asked.
“I wish I could give you an exact answer, but every labor is different.”
Mama closed her eyes.
“I knew you were going to say that.”
Daddy continued rubbing her hand while the doctor spoke with the nurse near the monitor. I couldn’t hear everything they were saying, but every now and then, one of them looked at the screen.
Then Mama’s face changed again. Daddy moved closer.
“I’m here.”
She was having another contraction. I watched her breathe through it, but almost immediately, that sound came from the monitor again. This time, the nurse moved faster.
