BACKPOST - Like Mother, Like Daughter - Kala's Day - Pt 1

Posted on Mon Feb 27th, 2017 @ 10:46am by Lieutenant Alex Walker & Meru Walker
Edited on on Mon Feb 27th, 2017 @ 10:53am

1,241 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Behind Closed Doors
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Two Days after arrival at Starbase

OLD:

As the last of the pain began to subside, Kala looked at her mother and the doctor, her face flushing a little. "I didn't know Mum, honest. I thought they were practice contractions." She looked at Harris. "Am I going to give birth soon?" she asked, somewhat hopeful she would. These contractions hurt.

Harris nodded "You're very close. Within 24 hours. I recommend staying close to sickbay. Check in with a doctor every few hours while you're awake."

NEW:

[Sickbay]
[approx 1000 ship time]

Kala sat down in the chair as Dr Harris, the other resident doctor, ran a tricorder scan over her abdomen. She could feel the pain subsiding from her last contraction and she began to breathe normally again.

Dr Harris nodded, “You're properly in labor now Kala. I can already see your several centimeters dilated. We’d better get you into the delivery room.”

“Nurse,” Harris motioned to a nurse to come over. “Please help Miss Walker to delivery room 1.” Turning back to Kala, he smiled. “Guess today is the day Miss Walker. You're going to be a mother.”

Meru looked at Dr Harris as the nurse helped Kala towards the delivery room, “A bit early isn’t it?”

“Not in her case I don’t think.” He replied. “It’s not uncommon for younger women such as Kala to give birth early when they are in their teens and expecting twins. At 14 her body, despite being capable of carrying a child, isn’t really ready for it. Add in her being on the petite side, and carrying twins, you have a perfect recipe for an early delivery.”

“I wasn’t late when I had her and her sister.” Meru remarked.

“You were also sixteen Meru, and even two years can make a world of difference for your reproductive development. Kala’s very young to be a mother by any standards. I’m just happy she has a family that truly cares for her, and understands what she’s facing.” He put down his tricorder. “I think we should join your daughter should we not?”

[meanwhile]
[Delivery Room 1]

Nervous, Kala followed the nurse into the delivery room. “So what’s going to happen now?” Kala asked the nurse. “Well Kala, for now, we have to wait. Your body is getting ready to welcome your babies into the world. The contractions are part of that but it takes time.” The nurse replied.

“How long?” Kala asked.

“Depends on your body and your babies. Some women it’s a few hours, some women take the better part of a day.”

“I hope it’s not too long.” Kala replied, “Contractions hurt.” As she said that, she felt the beginnings of another contraction start. The nurse helped her over to a chair and sat her down gently, “Kala. Focus on breathing. It’ll only be a minute.”

Kala nodded as the contraction peaked. Breathing like she was taught, Kala tried not to focus on the pain. It hurt enough she felt tears form in her eyes. She groaned, gritting her teeth against the pain.

While the nurse knelt beside Kala, Meru came in to see her daughter in the chair, in the midst of another contraction. She knew from experience how they felt and she went over to Kala. Placing her hand on her shoulder, Meru comforted her daughter. “You’re doing great Kala.”

[approx 4hrs later]
[approx 1230 ship time]

Harris ran another scan over Kala as she sat in the birthing chair. The contractions were getting closer and closer together, a good sign Kala was close. ”You're fully dilated Kala. Next contraction I want you to start pushing okay?”

Kala nodded her understanding. When the next contraction came, Kala bore down, pushing hard for all she was worth. The pain she was feeling was intense in a way she couldn't describe. Crying out as she pushed, the contraction continued for several more seconds. Letting out a groan as the contraction subsided, Kala lay back in the birthing chair, focusing on her breathing. Her mother Meru, sitting beside her, held Kala’s hand as her daughter focused on the birth.

"The baby is beginning to crown," Harris could just see the head and it's somewhat frustrating movement out and sometimes back but that was normal enough. Again, he took a few moments to gaze at the scans, but so far nothing worse than before. Finally, out came the head and just a hint of the shoulders. "One last good push now, Kala." Harris said quietly but with some authority.

Kala was exhausted from all the pushing she'd been doing the past few hours but gave it another push as best she could. Kala gave a frustrated and tired cry during her last push, which thankfully was enough and her daughter slipped out into the world, caught in Harris's hands.

Harris caught the baby and quickly cleared the mouth just as the newborn began to wail its arrival into the world. He then took care of the umbilical and wrapped the child and carried it to Kala. "A beautiful daughter," Harris said with a smile. “We still have the second to deliver so I can only give you a minute with her.”

Kala held the tiny thing in her arms. Her own child, a beautiful little girl. Reluctantly she handed the child over to the nurse who was hovering nearby. She smiled tiredly at Harris as another contraction began. “Let’s do this.”

“Let’s,” Harris remarked. “This should be a lot quicker. Second is usually only a few minutes behind the first.”

Kala nodded. She could already feel the second baby pushing it’s way into the world. Bearing down as the next contraction started, Kala could feel the second child crowning, getting ready for their entrance. The second delivery seemed like it happened in a few heartbeats, but in reality was closer to ten minutes. One moment Kala was bearing down, breathing as Mom had taught her, the next moment Harris has holding a screaming young boy in his arms.

[approx 1330 ship time]

This time when he handed Kala her son, she didn’t have to let go of this one. Accepting the first twin when the nurse handed her back, Kala held both in her arms. That had been the hardest thing she’d ever done but it was over. Seeing them both for the first time, Kala understood the joy her mother was anticipating.

Meru smiled, a proud look on her face as her daughter held the two newborns. Kala had an exhausted but happy look on her face. “They’re beautiful Kala. You did well.”

The nurse came over to do some quick scans of both babies, making sure everything was okay. She could feel Dr Harris pushing down on her stomach, hard enough it was somewhat uncomfortable. The nurse looked at her readings. “Both are doing well Kala. They’re both healthy as are you. Dr Harris is just finishing up then we’ll move you into recovery so you can rest with your twins and nurse if you feel up to it.”

Kala nodded tiredly. “I think I just want to rest.” She looked at her mom. “You’ll bring dad and everyone around?” Meru nodded, “When you had a chance to rest I’ll bring your father and Mira around to see you. The other’s will see when you come back home, okay?”

TBC.

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