A New Arrival

Subject: Re: A New Arrival Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:44 pm

Aisling had received word of Lulu's time coming early. It did not greatly concern her but her brows would furrow all the same. She gave orders to the room attendants and summoned A Neophyte and an Acolyte to assist her. Each one performing directions given by Aisling in preparation for Lulu's arrival. Fresh linens, hot water, special oils and hot tea were prepared and the fire was stoked to have ample heat within the room. Aisling had sent one of the ladies to show Luludja where to come. She had washed her hands well and was checking over a table with instruments on it.

The ladies that escorted her were clearly excited, chattering in hushed tones as they supported her. It was a long walk, not by distance, but for the times she had to stop for the pains to pass. When she finally reached the room the attendant had shown her to, her raven hair was damp against her brow, her olive skin flushed. Her gown hung loose upon her, her belt having been discarded and her laces loosened at some point that she could not recall. All constrictions, including her slippers and stockings had been removed, and she was softly panting through another pain when the ladies brought her in.

Aisling would greet her with a smile but she could see that Luludja was in much pain. She spoke to Dealene, the Neophyte, and Dealene would retrieve a rock bowl with a tannish gooey oil in it. Aisling moved to help get her to the bed that had been recently filled with fresh stuffing and clean linens placed upon it. " 'ow far apart be the pains Lulu?" No formalities in the labor room.

As the contraction passed, she was able to summon a smile, and a breathless word. "Quick, only moments apart. My waters broke an hour ago. I think the babe comes..soon." She whimpered faintly as she was helped to the bed, her brow creasing as she felt the building of the pressure again.

Leanna, the Acolyte would help get her to the bed and would begin to remove the rest of her clothing but pulling a sheet up over her in the same move as she adjusted the 3 pillows behind the small of her back, keeping her Lulu from laying down but kept in a propped up position. "Well good, them ma'aps we shall 'ave this baby and be in time fer dinner, aye?" She winked to her as she placed her extremely warm hands on Luludja's swollen abdomen, feeling one side and then the other then high and low. Then with a brow lifted, would repeat the action.

A short laugh escaped her that was soon cut off by a low groan of pain, and she began to pant again, quick, short breaths, as her hands clenched on the bedding beneath her.

Leanna would take a hand towel and dip it in the tan oily substance in the rock bowl then open it up and lay it across Lulu's abdomen when Aisling finally lifted her hands away. Ash turned and retrieved her heart listening tube, then covered one of Lulu's hands that had a death grip on the bed. Then she would put one end of the tube to her abdomen under the oily hand towel as she listened. Then placed it another spot and listened. "Hmmm....." She put it back and stepped to the end of the table. She gave directions to Dealene to remove two of the pillows and to lay Luludja back slowly as soon as the labor pain had ceased.

The pain quickly reached its peak and began to subside, allowing her breathing to return to normal for a few moments. The warmth of Aisling's hands was rather comforting, for her own temperature was elevated. Concern flashed in her eyes however, hearing the instruction, and she turned her head slightly as Dealene helped her to lay back. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"I be nae sure. I need tae see just 'ow far along the baby 'as come down the path. This will bring pain I fear boot it must be done." Leanna would offer Luludja a biting stick. Aisling's voice was not notably filled with concern but her concentration was deep and she avoided Lulu's eyes as she began her exam.

Her green eyes widened with a bit of fear, but she trusted Aisling, and knew she would do nothing unnecessarily. She took a deep breath and bit down on the stick lightly, breathing quick but deep as she awaited the next pain.

As Aisling placed one hand at the base of her abdomen the other searched the path to see the degree of progress. Luludja would not need to wait for the pain of a contraction for this would bring intense pain. Though it only took a few seconds, Aisling's concentration intensified. She was fully dilated but something was wrong. Ash looked up to Lulu with a steady expression. "Lulu, upon ye next contraction, I need ye tae push, aye?"

She tried not to scream, but failed, as her teeth clenched down on the biting stick, the sound ripped from her, her hands white-knuckled as she gripped the linens in an attempt to keep still and not thrash. She almost welcomed the growing pain of the contraction, that she was becoming accustomed to. Wide-eyed and breathing quick, she gave a weak nod, and when the pain reached its fullness, she bore down, pushing as hard as she could.

Aisling watched. "That be good Luludja, ye be doin'....wait, stop pushin' Lulu. I need ye tae refrain." She knew this would be hard but it was important for she could see that the child was breech. That is to say, it was coming butt first. "Try Luludja to relax lass...I need a moment." Her hand already trying to maneuver the child with pressure points. Leanna would whisper to her calmly in hopes of helping her to calm herself but her eyes were on Ash incase instruction was given.

She tried to stop pushing, low sounds of pain escaping her as she tried to relax her body, until the contraction had passed and her body went lax, her fingers loosening from the linen as she drew a shuddering breath. "What is it? Is the babe alright?" She managed to question, as she looked between the faces of Aisling and her attendants, the concentration she saw upon them all worrying her.

"It seems ye wee one wished tae enter this world backwards. I need tae try and turn the child. Ye will want tae push wit' the next contraction boot it be imperative that ye dae nae. Bite down 'ard boot do nae push, aye?" Already her hand atop Lulu's abdomen was pushing gently but with significant pressure as her hand below would keep track as well. She nodded to Dealene. "There, put pressure there." Dealene followed her instruction and Lulu would feel a rise in the pain level.

She nodded, but there was fresh terror in her eyes. Stories of breech births never ended well. She replaced the bit between her teeth, taking slow, deep breaths through her nose which ceased as the pain increased. She bit down hard on the stick which helped to muffle her cry as pain graduated to agony with the start of another contraction. She fought the urge to push as much as the urge to move away from the hands that were pressing against her belly.

Aisling knew her pain was great and in normal circumstances, the tan oily goo upon her abdomen might have helped with the pain but she wasn't sure with complications. Aisling pushed harder both above and below but her intense expression would not show relief. She stopped a moment and looked to Luludja. "LuLu, I cannae get the child to turn head down, I shall 'ave tae deliver this child feet first. To do that, I must first pull the feet straight. I be quite sorry m'friend boot this will be verra painful." She had little time to wait so she nodded her head to Luludja with brows raised wanting to know that she understood.

Her body was shaking already from the trial, but she nodded her understanding. Whatever she needed to do, she should do. Her eyes squeezed shut as she clenched her teeth upon the bit, knowing that only worse was coming.

Dealene had stopped the pressure as Aisling spoke, giving Luludja a second of relief. Leanna held her hand over one of Lulu's and the other wiped sweat away from her brow with a cool damp rag. Aisling lifted the sheet that covered her higher to get more light then with both hands, she maneuvered into the birth path to try and reach the bairn's legs. Being very gentle in her movements but knowing this was dangerous. No sooner had she managed the task when large amounts of blood began to flow from Luludja. Once both feet were straight, she looked up to her. "Push Luludja, push 'ard for me. Just a bit longer now." Her voice was calm but she knew her time was limited now in order to keep Luludja from losing too much blood.

Her fingers instinctively caught Leanna's as she felt the intrusion of Aisling's hands. She hardly had the breath to scream, but scream, she did, the terrible sound wrenching from her as agony tore through her. The terrifying shrieks would have scared the devil away if he'd dared set foot in the birthing chamber. She didn't know if she had the strength to push. But she had to, her body didn't give her a choice as the next contraction built, so too, did the urge, and with a deep, ragged breath drawn and held, she bore down.

Blood poured from her friend now and ran down onto the floor of the room. Aisling was careful not to lose her balance in the sticky substance of life. She grabbed the child's feet with one hand and the other she protectively guided the child inch by inch until at last the bloodied child was in her hands and out of the birthing canal. Dealene was at her side with a clean linen as Aisling carefully placed it in the warm cloth. She glanced up to Luludja seeing how very, very pale she had become with the loss of blood. It continued to flow freely. "It is a girl Luludja." Her voice was calm as she spoke but Ash knew the rip was in Luludja's uterus and that it had to be stopped immediately or the woman would never hold her baby. She concentrated and called forth the phoenix. A fiery glow around Ash's body would become visible. Her assistants eyes would widen.

Her head was swimming, the room seemed to spin around her. She heard Aisling's voice, though it sounded like it was coming through rushing water, or maybe it was her own heartbeat she was hearing in her ears. A girl. A baby girl. They'd all been right. The pain was dulled, not so sharp, and though she wanted to reach out for her baby, she couldn't find the strength and simply let her eyes close for a moment, just to rest.

Knowing the tear was too high up inside to reach, she would direct a healing flame up within and cauterize where she thought the rip would be in hopes to save Luludja's life. To her surprise, she would see that the bleeding did indeed slow in its flow and concentrated the healing flame in that spot. Her eyes jutting up to Luludja's face in monitoring her well being. She watched her chest as it rose and fell to monitor her breathing. When the blood had all but stopped in its flow, she would breath out. She directed Leanna to push from the top of the abdomen to help deliver the afterbirth but given strict instruction to her to be easy. She monitored for more blood but found no it was not excessive and was confident the healing flame had done its job well. Working blind was the most difficult of tasks but Ash was sure the light was with her for once the sac was delivered, the blood did not flow freely but only trickled as it should. "Luludja....Lulu....can ye 'ear me?" She had cut the cord which freed the child to be cleaned off and swaddled.

A gasp escaped the parched lips of the Roma woman, her dark brow furrowing, and her eyes opened to slits. She thought surely she was imagining the halo of flame around Aisling, but it was beautiful, she thought. A low whimper sounded with the renewed, though gentle pressure upon her belly, but eased into a rhythmic breath as exhaustion stole over her. She heard Aisling calling her after a moment, and turned her head toward the sound, her damp curls clinging to her dark skin. Finally, her eyes opened and she gave a small, weak nod. "Va." She croaked hoarsely. "My baby...my Nadya..she is alright?"

Dealene had cleared the child's throat of mucus and the child was breathing well though it was a small baby. Dealene was checking the child over as she wiped the blood away. Aisling heard her question and looked Dealene and then the child. Dealene nodded to her with a smile of relief. Aisling could see the child was pinking up even as they spoke. She turned her head to Luludja and smiled to her. "She be fine m'friend." As if on cue, the small Nadya began to cry. Weakly at first and broken whimpers but then once she filled those lungs with air, the volume rose. Aisling took the child and walked to the side of the bed, placing the child in the crook of her arm. "We shall clean ye up and the babe and then she will feed, aye?" Leanna supported the child as well in case Luludja was too weak but kept the child so she could see her. Aisling was checking Luludja's pulse and breathing. To one of the ladies in waiting, she would give instruction to stoke the fire, bring the warm water and pour some of the specially steeped tea. Her worry now was Luludja. The child seemed tiny but strong. Luludja's color still was not returning.

A quiet sound, half laugh and half sob left her lips when she heard that cry, it was the most beautiful music to her. She looked up at Aisling with tears in her eyes as she placed Nadya in the crook of her arm, and she curled it protectively around the small bundle. "Thank you." She whispered to her friend, but let her eyes close again for a long moment. She delighted in the feel of the baby against her, and didn't want to take her eyes from the tiny, angelic little features, but could not fight the weariness that robbed her of her strength.

When the tea was brought over, Leanna would help her to sit up, supporting the child, and assisted her in taking a few sips. "Ye did so verra well Luludja. Ye and the babe will be fine. I want ye to take a few drinks o' the tea and then ye will rest. We shall take care o' the babe until ye 'ave rested some. She shall be in yer arms when ye awake, aye?" Ash knew her words must seem distant to the exhausted friend and knew that sleep would allow her body to heal better than anything else. The herb tea would see to it that she slept. Leanna was already moving the child to be bathed in warm water then would be placed upon the breast to feed while her mother slept. "She be beautiful Luludja."

She smiled faintly and allowed Leanna to help her up, shifting Nadya gently in her arms as she took a few drinks of the hot tea, feeling the warmth spread through her, soothing her thirst, and easing her into a restful state. She didn't protest when they took the baby, with the assurance she would be there when she woke, and smiled softly. "Thank you, Aisling..your name shall be her second." She said quietly, before sleep finally took her.

Aisling looked unbelievingly at her friend as it touched her heart with such an overwhelming warmth. Then she smiled with pride at her statement. Seeing that she had drifted off, she helped clean up Luludja, and the babe and checked the child over at least 3 more times and checked on Luludja at least 6 more times before finally deciding it was safe to fall asleep herself. She slept in the same room just to be sure. A woman was sent to advise the royals that Luludja had given birth and that both child and mother were recovering. She made certain no other information was given accept they would have to wait until the following day to visit the new mother and her child.

Subject: A New Arrival Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:56 pm

There was so much to do yet. With the bard's night planning and the wedding coming up, Luludja was busy, but she was careful to delegate, careful to rest, ever since she'd landed herself in bed for a week. She'd found it difficult to rest the night before, and had been up and down, checking to make sure everything in the nursery was as she wanted it. Her mind wouldn't shut down long enough to allow her to sleep. Or maybe it was the growing ache in her lower back, nagging at her every time she tried to lie down.

By midmorning it was bothering her when she would sit for too long, and she found herself often pacing the floor, assuring Her Majesty that she was alright, ignoring the whispers of the Queen's ladies as they watched her, or took turns taking her arm to walk with her. They seemed to sense her time had come, even if she hadn't yet realized it. She'd carried high throughout her pregnancy, but her belly was noticeably lower in the past few days. With all she'd been doing, she hardly noted it, save that it was easier to breathe.

Early in the afternoon, she began to feel a tightening around her middle, just a little pressure at first, but within an hour, it was unmistakable, even to her. She'd felt it before, weeks ago, but now, she was certain, that all would go alright.

As fearless as she often seemed, however, she was terrified. When Baiat had been born, she'd been alone, little more than a child. The pain she'd endured flooded back to her as the present labor pains began to assert themselves. She fought to maintain her calm, and her pacing took on more purpose. She was not alone. Hands supported her, voices murmured encouragement. In moments of respite, she'd sit and rest, and it was then that she told one of the ladies to send word. A message was dispatched to Vatra, to her brother and bori, another to Solomon's Cove to let Hans know his child was coming, and a third to Lady Aisling, to inform her that Luludja would be coming to the healer's wing shortly.

She spent as much time as she could in the Ladies' wing, walking, waiting, until the pains became too great, and then with an escort of excited ladies, she finally made the short trip to the office of the healer, to welcome her child into the world.

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