"Yeah, but it didn’t feel like this the last time." I whined.
"All babies are different. Tell me about the pain you are feeling?"
I told him that it felt like all of the pain was wrapping around my stomach and stretching up my back to my shoulders.
"Ahh, you are experiencing back labor." He nodded. "It’s a common sensation…"
"Sensation!" I exclaimed. "This feels like something is trying to rip my spine in half!" I panted and took a large breath as another pain caused me to curl up on myself and brace my weight against the wall. Aidan quickly held my sides, gently rubbing my back, as I began to straighten back out.
"I’m so sorry, baby." He whispered to me.
"You should be." I snapped. "Oh dear God, get it out of me!" I paced around the room.
"We need to check you, Lilli." The doctor informed as he patted the hospital bed.
I cringed at the thought of him sticking anything up my hoo-haw at this particular moment.
Lying on the bed, he pushed my knees apart and then the painful pressure filled me. I groaned and shifted uncomfortably.
He pulled back and pushed the nurse call button on the bed.
"Well, it looks as if your wish may be granted. You are dilated to ten already." He smiled down at me and then turned his attention to the nurse as they prepared to deliver the baby.
Aidan kissed the top of my head and held my hand. "We’re almost there."
"Great, now I can’t get the freaking drugs!" I felt him chuckle at my panted comment.
Another pain came and I started panting and breathing heavy.
"Okay, Lilli, with your next contraction, I want you to push." He looked up at me and I nodded, eager to get it out. "Here we go."
I tightened my grip on Aidan’s hand and started pushing down. "Good job." the doctor praised.
"You are doing so well." Aidan cheered. "Here comes another one, push, Lilli, push!"
I pushed down again but the pain that surged through my back caused me to stop in the middle.
"Lilli?" The doctor looked up at me quickly.
"It hurts! My back…" I cried.
"Can’t you give her something?" Aidan pleaded.
"Lilli, look at me." I forced my eyes open and looked directly into the doctor’s face. "I need you to push and push hard, it’s too late for anesthesia. You need to push hard. Ready?" I nodded, though I was still unsure. "Okay, here we go."
"Come on, Lilli, you can do this. You are the strongest woman I have ever met." Aidan was praising me on my left and the doctor was working between my legs.
With a large guttural scream, I threw my head back. I felt the pressure start to ease and panted heavily. Then we heard it, a cry. I was wheezing heavily as I looked down. He laid the baby on my stomach.
"Congratulations, it’s a girl." The doctor smiled and I felt Aidan’s lips on my head over and over.
A tear slid down my cheek, but it wasn’t mine. I turned my head and saw the free flowing tears of Aidan. His lips smashed to mine, a mixture of salt and Aidan on my mouth. He pulled back and wiped my forehead.
"Good job, baby." He smiled wide-eyed and then turned his green eyes on his new daughter.
I slept for hours after I had given birth. Back labor was a bitch and it had completely exhausted me. When I woke up, I saw Aidan sitting in the recliner with Alesandra in his arms. He was running his finger over her chubby, pink cheeks and whispering to her,
"Hey." I whispered and his head snapped to me. A large smile spread on his face.
"She’s gorgeous, Lilli." I could hear the pride in his voice. "Look at all her hair." He looked back down on her adoringly.
He was right, she had almost a full head of dark, brown hair on her tiny, round head. Her skin was as pink as Livy’s had been when she was born, but she didn’t have one trace of red hair.
"She’s going to look like you." He beamed at me.
"You never know…" I trailed off as he placed her in my arms.
"No, I can feel it when I look at her. She’s going to be you through and through. I’m gonna have to protect her from tons of boys." He laughed.
"Well, now you have Livy and Alesandra to go all ‘protective father’ on." I smiled down at the new baby in my arms.
"Nah, Walsh has my back on Livy. He’ll kill anyone that comes near her. But, Ales, here, I will have to pay extra attention to, especially when she ends up looking just like you." He kissed the side of my head.
I was laughing quietly when the first of many hospital visitors and gifts started to arrive. Phoebe and Celia burst into the room arguing over who would hold her first. Dixon beat them all to punch, smirking at them as they pouted.
Liam and Viola arrived with Maggie and Abby. Sarah called me after I had Aidan send her a picture mail. He also sent one to Donald, but I hadn’t heard anything from him yet. As evening approached and I didn’t hear from him, I started to worry. Aidan kept telling me that everything was fine, trying to reassure me.
"How do you know?" I argued as Anne and Henry entered the room with Elora and James.