ASHANTI
“I can’t take it anymore,” I told Kristoff as we were in the labor room. This morning, I had several Braxton-Hicks that made Kristoff panic. The contractions had been intensified from then up to now.
“Baby, just hold on a little longer.” I don’t know who Kristoff is telling that—me or the baby.
He gripped onto my hand as before planting a kiss on my sweaty forehead.
I’ve known how painful it is to give birth but the ones I have read never really made me feel this way. This is—by far—the worst pain in my life. I have never even imagined feeling this excruciating pain.
Dr. Johnson, my OB, with a nurse came towards us. The nurse explained that the doctor will be checking my cervical dilatation.
“You’re fully dilated now, Mrs. Marx. You can push now.” Dr. Johnson told me and encouraged me to bear down.
Kristoff was holding my hand tightly while wiping the sweat on my forehead. I know how excited he is for this but looking at his worried look makes me think that he’s now internally panicking.
“Baby, come on. You can do it.” He continually whispered those words as I pushed.
“You’re doing fine, Mrs. Marx. I can see the head of the baby from here now.” Dr. Johnson encouraged me. “One more push and it will all be over.” She assured me.
I’ve watched several clips about giving birth and probably got the gist on how to do it properly. I inhaled as deeply as I could to be able to get the force to push down.
“One more, Baby. Just one more.” Kristoff whispered as he leaned his face on the side of my head.
It’s as if his gesture has brought me strength because the next thing I know, I was hearing a loud cry from a baby.
Mixed emotions surged in me as the nurse handed me the baby. I looked at Kristoff who is as astounded as I am right now. His eyes are glistening with brimming tears. The way he looked at Theron—the name we agreed upon after a lot of arguments—made my heart melt in happiness. Watching him get elated with the news of me getting pregnant is touching but this, the way he looked at our son made me want to cry.
The moment Theron got into arms, I hugged him delicately. He’s my first angel and he definitely looks like Kristoff.
Now I know why giving birth is one of the best, if not the best, moments in a mother’s life. Nine months of waiting is all worth it with the way my baby cries. The pain is nothing compared to the feeling of holding your own flesh. Nothing could ever surpass this feeling. Nothing could ever be happier than this moment.
I looked at Kristoff and he was already looking. “You want to hold him?” I asked him and he looked scared.
“He’s so small.” He hesitated while looking at Theron.
The nurse and Dr. Johnson smiled at us.
“You should hold him now before we transfer him to the nursery, Mr. Marx.” The nurse said.
Kristoff gulped before nodding slowly. He definitely looked so cute with the way he hesitated. His tall stature didn’t match that trait of his so well.
I slowly gave him Theron. He carefully carried him towards his chest. He stared at our baby for so long that he smiled slowly before looking at me. “He looks like me, doesn’t he?”
His voice was filled with pride and I had to roll my eyes. He laughed and kissed me on the lips. “I love you, Ashanti,” he said. “I will love only you and our kids for the rest of my life.”
I smiled at him. He always gets me whenever he becomes like this. Even with eight years of being married, I still have the same feeling whenever he says he loves me. Will I ever get enough, anyway? It’s as if I’ve already lived to hear him saying that.
“I love you, too.” I whispered back and kissed Theron’s forehead.
The nurse came to us and informed us that Theron and Kristoff will have to leave while they fix me before I could go to a regular room. Kristoff kissed my forehead before leaving with our son to the nursery.
It was not long when I got transferred to my room. When I got there, my friends were already waiting for me. Genevieve ran to me with a huge smile. She hugged me before showing me the photos of Theron that she took.
“He’s so handsome! I bet when he grows up, he’s going to be like his Dad.” Genevieve winked at me and I just chuckled. She looked like an over-excited aunt.
Chester and the rest of the boys huddled at where the picture was to see it, too.
“Woah!” Leo exclaimed. “He really looks like Kristoff when he was young.”
Yeoj nodded. “No doubt! His genes are so dominant, huh?” He smirked before looking at Kristoff who is already grinning widely.
I shook my head at the pride that Kristoff is showing in front of his friends. He seemed so contented and satisfied at how Theron looked like.
“Handsome, right?” He teased his friends.
I rolled my eyes before hitting him slightly on the arm. “Conceited much?” I beamed.
He shrugged and then sat on the side of my bed, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “That’s because he came from such beautiful and handsome people. Come on, Ashanti. There’s nothing to worry about.”
I looked at him in disbelief. His really, really feeling it into this, huh?
“Oh! And the nurse said your son could be transferred here by tomorrow morning.” Genevieve spoke.
I felt Kristoff perk up in excitement. Just moments ago, he was so nervous on holding our son but now, he’s different. He’s so excited.
“Can they transfer him earlier?” Kristoff asked.
Genevieve shrugged. “I don’t know. But I hope so,” she replied before looking at me. “And, oh, you’ll get discharged tomorrow, too.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “How did you know?” I asked, curiously.
Chester shook his head and slung his arm around his wife. “Well, she’s a social butterfly, isn’t she?” He beamed making me laugh.
Oh yeah. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Genevieve has always had that charm that would make you feel close to her in just a meeting. That’s also the main reason why we’re best friends.
***
Our friends left when dinner was over. Kristoff was mumbling about how user-friendly they are to leave after he ordered food for them. I laughed and just shook my head at his remarks. This is a happy day, so, no negativity can come near me.
He walked towards me and sat on the side of my bed. “Are you sleepy?” he asked.
I shook my head. I slept when I got here so I don’t think I can sleep early tonight. And besides, I am so excited about having our son with our side tomorrow morning. I don’t think I can sleep with that.
Kristoff wrapped his arm around me as he stretched his legs on the bed, making him lie beside me. I laughed at him when he almost fell off because he couldn’t fit his long legs in.
“You’re too tall, Kristoff,” I told him while moving to the side so he could position better.
He looked at me but he was persistent on making himself fit. When he finally got his position, he stared at me. “I love you so much, you know that?”
I stared into his eyes and saw no humor in his tone, not even on his expression. I smiled. “You know that I love you so much, too, right?” I countered.
He smirked and leaned closer. “Your doctor said we can’t do this until the fourth month.” He whispered as he pulled me closer and kissed me passionately on the lips.