70th Winter 513
The pavilion was stifling, at least to Taylani, as she sat on her knees beside Sharika Nightsong. It seemed as if the entire family of the woman laboring on the birthing chair was inside, some in the same area others within the living area. It made Taylani pray to whatever god was listening that when she gave birth Fallan's family would still be on the run and not in Endrykas. She did not think she could do what this woman was doing with an audience, though the Drykas seemed to think it was perfectly natural. In fact it was a matter of celebration, and even the children ran in and out much to Taylani's consternation. Sharika, on the other hand, just sat there calmly watching and waiting between the knees of the woman.
It was some time in the early bells of the morning, most of the Drykas would be sleeping still. Taylani had been sent for by one of Sharika's grandchildren, someone had gone into labor. As per usual, since this was a routine birth and nothing to get worried over apparently, they waited to call the midwives until it was very close to time. The woman was sat up on the birthing chair, which was a stool with a very low back, and a split so that her thighs held her up but there was nothing covering the areas needing to be free. It didn't look comfortable at first, the woman seemed to be grateful for the support.
"We don't lay women down when the time comes for them to push, " Sharika explains between contractions, "Gravity helps, so sitting up like this is best..actually in my day we got on all fours, that was just as fine in my opinion but .." Sharika cackled gently at Taylani's stare. "Oh girl you give me the fits some times. Now you sit and watch, assist when I tell you too. Soon enough you will be here."
That was just moments ago, now Sharika was raising up, "Taylani, press on the very top of her belly when I tell you too..Make sure you feel the womb, give her some help." Taylani stands, and used her fingers to feel for the hardened shape of the womb that this far along is easy to find. It amazed her that when the woman started to groan, she actually felt the belly contracting..or rather the uterus Taylani corrected herself. Either way she felt it under hand tighten up, just like her arm feels when she contracted it. It took Sharika sharply spoken, "Push!", to remind Taylani of her job. She gently pushed downward, even as the woman in labor started to grunt and hiss. Fresh fluid bursts, but still no baby when the contraction ended.
"How long until the baby comes?" Taylani asked, her hand taking the hand of the Drykas woman who was leaning back against two more Drykas women. So many people in this room it was appalling to the Syliran woman, but the laboring woman simply whimpered and sighed gratefully as one of the women sponged a cool cloth over her brow. Taylani herself provided what comfort she could, patting the woman's hand and squeezing gently in support.
"As long as it takes child. There is no time tables on these matters." Sharika answered gently, "Though once this child shows his or her head we can help a little more." Sharika turned her rheumy eyes toward Taylani with her brow of whispy white raised. "You remember what I told you the number one job of a midwife is? To comfort and encourage the mother..didn't you say you were a singer back when? Why don't you, in between contractions, sing to her."
Taylani speaking
The pavilion was stifling, at least to Taylani, as she sat on her knees beside Sharika Nightsong. It seemed as if the entire family of the woman laboring on the birthing chair was inside, some in the same area others within the living area. It made Taylani pray to whatever god was listening that when she gave birth Fallan's family would still be on the run and not in Endrykas. She did not think she could do what this woman was doing with an audience, though the Drykas seemed to think it was perfectly natural. In fact it was a matter of celebration, and even the children ran in and out much to Taylani's consternation. Sharika, on the other hand, just sat there calmly watching and waiting between the knees of the woman.
It was some time in the early bells of the morning, most of the Drykas would be sleeping still. Taylani had been sent for by one of Sharika's grandchildren, someone had gone into labor. As per usual, since this was a routine birth and nothing to get worried over apparently, they waited to call the midwives until it was very close to time. The woman was sat up on the birthing chair, which was a stool with a very low back, and a split so that her thighs held her up but there was nothing covering the areas needing to be free. It didn't look comfortable at first, the woman seemed to be grateful for the support.
"We don't lay women down when the time comes for them to push, " Sharika explains between contractions, "Gravity helps, so sitting up like this is best..actually in my day we got on all fours, that was just as fine in my opinion but .." Sharika cackled gently at Taylani's stare. "Oh girl you give me the fits some times. Now you sit and watch, assist when I tell you too. Soon enough you will be here."
That was just moments ago, now Sharika was raising up, "Taylani, press on the very top of her belly when I tell you too..Make sure you feel the womb, give her some help." Taylani stands, and used her fingers to feel for the hardened shape of the womb that this far along is easy to find. It amazed her that when the woman started to groan, she actually felt the belly contracting..or rather the uterus Taylani corrected herself. Either way she felt it under hand tighten up, just like her arm feels when she contracted it. It took Sharika sharply spoken, "Push!", to remind Taylani of her job. She gently pushed downward, even as the woman in labor started to grunt and hiss. Fresh fluid bursts, but still no baby when the contraction ended.
"How long until the baby comes?" Taylani asked, her hand taking the hand of the Drykas woman who was leaning back against two more Drykas women. So many people in this room it was appalling to the Syliran woman, but the laboring woman simply whimpered and sighed gratefully as one of the women sponged a cool cloth over her brow. Taylani herself provided what comfort she could, patting the woman's hand and squeezing gently in support.
"As long as it takes child. There is no time tables on these matters." Sharika answered gently, "Though once this child shows his or her head we can help a little more." Sharika turned her rheumy eyes toward Taylani with her brow of whispy white raised. "You remember what I told you the number one job of a midwife is? To comfort and encourage the mother..didn't you say you were a singer back when? Why don't you, in between contractions, sing to her."
Taylani speaking
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