Twas The Night Before Christmas

I sighed as I walked into my house. My 9-month pregnant belly led the way. In my hands are bags of presents that I have to wrap and put under my Christmas tree for family who are coming over in the morning.

My name is Benson Tyler. I am 23 years old and a single mom. Never met a guy I wanna settle down with you know? Now you are probably wondering how I got pregnant if I never had a guy I wanna settle with right? Well the answer is simple. I was artificially inseminated.

As I walked into the house my cat Mavis ran to me and licked my face a million times giving me kisses. I pet him and smiled. “Hi Mavis. I got you something awesome.” I said as I set the bags on the counter. “Sweet boy what are you doing?” I asked as he started to sniff the bags.

Trying to figure out what you got for me. He said in my head. Did I tell you I can speak to cats? It’s really awesome; makes caring for Mavis so easy.

I giggled and tapped his nose. “That is cheating Mavis. No cheating. Be a good kitty and be patient.” I started to unpack the bags and he nudged my stomach.

Is the baby being good today? I know your back was hurting when you left. He said with concern. Actual concern.

I smiled petting him again. “Yeah. The baby has been napping. I feel much better. Thank you for caring about me Mavis.” He purred and leaned against me rubbing on me.

Later that night I sat on the floor between the couch and coffee table to work on wrapping presents. Mavis was by my playing with the ribbon or pouncing on the wrapping paper. I laughed as he ran, jumped, pounced on the paper then ran off again. My sweet boy. I sighed and looked at my stomach. The baby was awake and kicking. “Hey Mavis, come here.”

I said with a smile. Mavis pranced over and purred. Yes Benson? He asked kindly. I gently grabbed his front paws and put them on my stomach. He purred louder as he felt the baby kicking at his paws. Wow. The child is so strong… You are going to deliver soon right? I nodded. Good. You look ready to pop any day. He said as he nuzzled my stomach.

“Isn’t it awesome Mavis. A tiny life inside me kicking and squirming and moving around. It’s surreal… A part of me wonders if this is real or actually a dream that my mind has created to sate my desires of being a mother… What do you think?”

Well I say it’s real. And if it is a dream it will be the best you ever have. I nodded happily. I sighed as I kept at the presents wrapping them with precision and accuracy. I had just finished the last presents when something inside me felt different. It was like a trigger was pulled. Then my pants, boxers, and the floor were wet. I was so shocked. Did you just pee the floor? Mavis asked kinda snidely.

“No…” I said slowly. “I… My water just broke…” I replied scared. “Oh god… The baby is coming now…” Mavis let out a mew and ran into action. Well ran off seems more appropriate. I sighed as I slowly stood to get changed into clean dry clothes. Once done getting changed I came back out to the living room and put the rug-cleaning thing on the mess I made before it has a chance to set into my carpet.

I called my midwife Jason and waited as it rang. “Hello?” I heard on the other end.

“Hi Jason… It’s Benson Tyler.” I said as I slowly sat on my couch on a stack of towels.

“Hello Benson. Is everything alright?” He asked.

“Uh… Well yeah. But my water just broke…” I said as I rubbed my stomach.

“Alright. I’ll be over soon ok? Just remember to breathe with each contraction and keep calm.” He sounded reassuring.

“Alright.” I sighed and hung up. I put the phone within reach and wondered what to do now. Not much to do. I can attempt to make cookies I guess… I decided to do that. I grabbed my phone and put it in the pocket of my comfy sweatpants. I waddled to the kitchen and got the needed ingredients. Mavis looked at me and cocked his head. “What?” He chuckled. “Oh hush. I need something to do or I will go stark raving mad.” I said as I put my ingredients in a line.

I sighed as I worked on my cookies. I felt a contraction coming and bit my lip and held onto the counter for support. I breathed deeply waiting for it to end.  I was in the middle of my contraction as my doorbell rang. I ignored it til the contraction ended. Once the contraction ended I walked to the door and opened it. There stood Jason. He smiled at me. “How you feeling?”

I sighed. “Alright. Just had a contraction… I don’t like them already.”

He chuckled and I led him in. He set his bags on the couch. “So your water broke and you only had one contraction?” I nodded. “Alright.” He smiled. “So what are you making?” I was confused. How did he know. “You have flour on your shirt and some in your hair.”

I blushed. “Oh… Christmas cookies. I figured a distraction would be good.” He nodded. I sighed shaking the flour from my hair and shirt. “I am sorry for my appearance… Really I am…”

Jason smiled. “It’s alright. No need to be embarrassed.” I nodded meekly. “Can we really quick check your dilation?” He asked.

I nodded. “Sure… Where should I lie down?”

“Anywhere is fine. Wherever you’re comfortable. You can even sit on the couch if you want to.” I nodded and sat on the couch after removing my boxers and pants as Jason put on latex gloves. I sighed and tried to stay relaxed as he felt around inside me. I took deep calming breaths and thought of other things. Like the fact that in mere hours I will be a mother and get to meet my baby.

He smiled as he pulled his fingers out. “You’re at 3 CM. That is not bad at all.” He said as he removed his glove and threw it away.

“So now what?” I asked as I put on my sweats and boxers again. He looked confused. “What do I do now?”

“Anything you want. That is the point of a midwife coming to your home. You can do whatever you want. You can dance, nap, finish making your cookies, anything you desire.”

I nodded. “Ok. Oh Mavis is running around so be careful.” He nodded and I walked off to the kitchen.

I spent hours doing various things like making cookies and spending time with Mavis. Around 3:00 AM, I had reached 10 CM. The time to push had come. I was set up in my bathroom in my tub. I wore a shirt and nothing else. I am sitting on my knees and panting. By now my body is sore and I am on the brink of exhaustion.

I sighed as Jason felt inside me and checked me again. “I can feel the baby’s head.” He said with a smile.

I smiled and rubbed my stomach. “My baby. I get to meet you soon.” I smiled content and waited for my next contraction to come. I felt it starting and took a deep breath. As it reached it’s peak I pushed with all my might. I groaned and bit my lip hard as I felt the baby ever so slowly moving down my birth canal towards the water of the bathtub.

As the contraction ended, I panted and closed my eyes trying to stay composed and focused. I sighed and looked at Jason. He was kneeling by my tub waiting for the baby’s entrance to the world. I sighed as he chuckled. “This is not as easy as the birthing video’s made it look…” I chuckled a bit myself.

He nodded. “It is different for everyone. You should know that.” I nodded. “But you are doing great.”

I panted and smiled as Mavis ran over and licked my face. “Hi Mavis.”

Jason smiled. “He’s really supportive of you. If I didn’t know better I’d say he know you really well.”

I nodded. “He’s just my good boy.” I pet him and gently kissed his nose. He pulled away and shook his head, which made me laugh.

Ew!!! Why did you do that to me? He pawed at his nose. You know I hate that! He shook his head again.

I just pet him. “Who’s my good kitty?” I said to get the point across that Jason has no clue that I can talk to my cat. He just looked at me and meowed. I felt another contraction coming and pushed with all my might. I groaned and moaned as the baby made a jump down. Now my privates were burning.

Jason smiled. “Good! Very good, you’re crowning. Gentle easy pushes now.” I nodded and panted. I gave gentle pushes and as more of the head came out I was in more pain. When the head finally was out fully my body was quivering from pain. I held onto the side of the tub and panted trying not to scream or cry.

Jason gently reached down to feel for a cord around it’s tiny neck. When he found none, I was given the ok to push again when ready. I felt the urge coming and pushed with all my might. I felt the baby slowly turning as I pushed. Then a shoulder popped out followed by another. I grunted with each shoulder release. The baby then was dangling between my legs in the water.

I shifted a bit opening my legs wider and pushed again. In a second the baby came out into Jason’s hands then he put it in mine. I cried looking at my tiny child. I smiled noticing it’s a girl. I kissed her head and cried with her as she started to scream. “Shh I have you honey. It’s ok.” I kissed her repeatedly as I counted body parts to make sure she had them all. Mavis ran back and licked her gently.

“Baby Noel Lynne Tyler.” I said with a huge smile.

Jason nodded. “Born 4:23 AM on Christmas day.”

~Fin~