Difficult Labor

[Amunet]

10th of Fall, 515 a.v.
5th bell
Drykas camp 5 miles North from Endrykas

The Blackwolf clan was known to stay a bit away from Endrykas and did not always move with the city. The gods must have watched this clan as it sent one of its quickest riders towards Endrykas to get a midwife. One of its women was in labor for over a day and still hadn’t given birth. There was of course no small bit of urgency as the rider came skidding to a stop at the River Flower. In a hair’s breadth, once he got the information of where one of the available midwives were at, the rider was on the strider and bolted towards the ruby clan district to look for the Shimmerstone Pavilion.

The rider came to another sliding halt as the sweated mount was breathing. Members of the Shimmerstone Pavilion came out to see the commotion as the rider called out to the Ankal in a strained voice. Other hands helped to refresh the horse as Amunet’s grandfather encouraged him to let the horse rest before sending someone to get Amunet. The women of the Pavilion brought out refreshment for the hurried rider as worried frowns for their plight was on their faces as Amunet hurried from within the depths of the Pavilion main tent.

The girl looked at the sweated horse and equally sweated rider as it didn’t take a mind reader to understand the urgency. The rider was a tad surprised how young Amunet was but when the girl started talking and asking questions, it became quickly clear of the young woman’s acumen with her job. She nodded and went to yvas her strider.

“Father, can you make sure that Camile and Leia get fed? I am not sure I will make it back this evening.” The girl had asked as the grey of syna’s rise barely made an announcement in the east.

Goren nodded solemnly. “Not a problem, baby girl. Go do what you can.” The flashback of his deceased wife came to the fore of his mind as Amunet’s sense of compassion was definitely her mothers. The large hands went on the slight shoulders of the young woman gently and squeezed once. A silent gesture that everything would be well and taken care of while she was gone.

Amunet was used to her father’s quiet way. The girl smiled as she and her strider walked around to the front where the other strider was catching her breath. Her hair hung loose down across her face as she gently put a hand out to the strider. The young woman looked into her eyes. With gentle movements, she stepped closer and put a hand on the shoulder. The animal looked curiously at her as the hand gently went across the sweated shoulder to the chest and then between the front legs. She was cool enough for a drink of water. Amunet closed her eyes and let her hand linger there for a few ticks. The rider was walking towards her. The swirling sigil on her face that was covered by her hair tingled and sent a warm sensation that transferred to the beast gently. It was curious the strider was calm by the clicks it took for the rider to reach her.

“are you ready? We really should hurry.” The man said in a worried voice. The curiosity of the moment was pushed aside for the current dilemma.

“Of course, let’s get your strider a drink of water right quick and we will be off. “ Amunet preferred anonymity with her mark at present. The girl was still getting used to having been graced by the great lady. She patted the strider on the side of the neck. One of her brothers brought a bucket of tepid water. The strider drank. Amunet mounted Shetanae while her father had to hold onto Leia a little to keep her from following her mistress.

“Right, thank you.” The man shook his head. He was in such a hurry that the rush of the moments emptied his brain. His strider seemed to perk up after the drink. That was what he thought and Amunet did not say anything to the contrary.

They rode out of Endrykas and as soon as they hit open ground, the striders were let loose into their timeless ground eating gallop through the sea of grass. Amunet crouched her body close to the strider’s withers and her head was off to the side the mane did not fall on. The feel of the muscles that effortlessly bunched and released in time with how the grass swayed beneath them was one of the miracles of the Grass and the Striders no one has been able to figure out. Just experiencing it was a dream.

[Amunet]

Five miles North of Endrykas saw the Pavilion that was their destination crest on the horizon upon cresting the small hill. As the mounts flew across the grass they did not slow or falter as they made beeline towards their destination. They came to a sudden halt at the edge as both horses went down on their haunches to stop their momentum. Members of the pavilion came running out to care for the striders as Amunet was ushered towards the Pavilion as she took her yvas bag and pack in hand as she started asking questions.

“How long has she been in labor, your messenger was not clear.” She almost had to run to keep up with the husband to the woman who was in labor.

“Two days and fifteen bells. Not that im counting.” The man said in short terse statements. Using the gruffness to cover for his worry and stay strong for his wife and himself.

This was not too unusual. “Is this her first baby?” Amunet asked in calm even tones.

“No, this is her second. Her first was born in 19 bells I think.” The man wasn’t too sure but he was trying.

Amunet did not want to stress the man out any more than he already was. “I will need hot water and plenty of it. “ The midwife requested looking in his eyes. “I will do all in my ability to do what I can.”

The man hesitated as the words sunk in. Amunet looked so young, but her eyes were strong and serious that belied what her youthful face suggested. The man nodded as he barked orders for the fire to be stronger and water to be started to boil. It was good to keep the men busy and while she does need the hot water, these little chores kept the men from being underfoot.

Once she entered the tent and went to the bedchamber the tired woman was in labor in she put her pack and yvas bag neatly to one side. Her hand was on the woman’s sweated forehead. “Please, help me. Please.” The woman was exhausted. There was an older woman sitting with her and one of the other women of the pavilion who was winging her hands in worry.

“when did labor start?” Amunet started as the bucket of hot water was put beside the bucket of water that had gotten cold was at. As the hand went to get the bucket of cold water to remove it, Amunet shook her head. “ I will need that, thank you though. “ The man shrugged and quickly exited what was clearly women’s business.

“It had been off and on for two weeks. Three days ago she started the pains. 36 bells ago the hard pains hit. “ The older woman relayed

The red head nodded. “Has water broken?” She put a scoop of hot water in a wash pan and a scoop of cold along with it as she waited for the answer. The sleeves were rolled up and her hair was braided loosely away from her face. The errant tendril escaped that fell down the right side of her face. There was usually one as it swung there freely.

“It hasn’t broken. “ The old woman sighed with some concern.

Amunet gave a sigh of relief. If the water hasn’t broken, the baby was protected to a point. The red head nodded to the older woman. With a purpose she went to the one that was in labor. Her name was Lana. The look in her eyes was one of pain, anguish, fear, exhaustion and more rolled up in that one expression. The girl wailed as the pains hit her. Amunet’s hand was on her abdomen that was as tight as a rock. That hand moved to different spots of the swollen abdomen. The tightening seemed to be even but for some reason unproductive.

[Amunet]

“Lana, I need you to breath deeply, stop gasping. Look at me. " Her hands were on either side of the tightened abdomen. “I need to examine you, but you got to relax.” The woman was so tired she was fighting every contraction it seemed. The woman looked at her as they locked eyes. Her hand became arm and her face took on a luminous quality as the right side the opalescent sigil shimmered from light to a more prominent and distinctive coloring. The tendril of hair laid across it. The struggling woman seemed to breathe easier and relax as if some discomfort was eased.

“There you go. “ Amunet said softly as two of her fingers gently eased into the opening to feel the cervix. That little face looked up as her brow furrowed to analyze and determine what it was she was feeling. She was dilated some but not enough. The bag of waters was bulging right there also. The bag felt thick. If the studious red head was not mistaken it might be a little too thick, but it was speculation at the moment and no help either. Her waters needed to be broken as her body needed that signal to progress with labor.

“Please go tell one of the men I need a water reed about this long? “ Amunet measured the length with her hands. It was about two feet in length.
The other woman was relieved the woman was getting good care. The exhaustion of the pavilion did not notice the little exchange except the old woman who looked at Amunet with an awed expression. She; however, did not say a word. Not with the situation as it stood. Amunet helped the woman breath through her contractions properly though.

“Look at me Lana. Take a deep breath and breath out slowly. Keep your eye on me. Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Relax and breath normally. “ The young lady instructed. “when you feel the tightening, take a very deep breath and do the same. “

Lana nodded as she was surprised that the pain and discomfort had eased. She felt a strength she thought she lost, maybe a second wind. The woman didn’t go through this with the first baby. “Why is this happening?”

The midwife looked at her. “It seems your water hasn’t broken. The bag of waters don’t rupture for a variety of reasons, but what this means to your body is it doesn’t have the signals to move forward with the rest of the process of birthing. We will have to coax that along.” She explained.

Amunet took the reed that she was provided. She took her dagger out and cleaned it in soap and water. She would have to oil it later. A midwife showed her how to do this when she was shadowing them at seventeen years old. Her sharp dagger at a sloping angle shaved the outer green coating off at the last six inches of the reed. The last slice was cutting the tip at a fourty five degree angle to create a sharp point. The first cut produced frayed results. The midwife frowned with that and the reason she asked for two feet of reed. She put her dagger down at the angle she wanted as a mock up of placement. With one sure slice of the sharp blade off came the frayed tip. The red head looked at the tip as it was sharp enough and angled enough to her satisfaction.

It had one purpose only and that was to puncture one bag of thick membranes. The material was stiff enough to do the job, but not so unforgiving as to cause injury. There was a small danger to the infant. The midwife rewashed her hands before kneeling down between Lana’s legs. Amunet said reassuring words to Lana as she requested she spread her knees a bit so she can re-examine her. She wanted to make sure the baby’s head hadn’t entered the canal yet. With not having dialated completely she was reasonably safe it was not right at the cervix. She gently but firmly pushed the bags in and felt for anything firm and roundish. The tip of her finger barely touched that firm and roundish object. The head was not in the canal but was right there ready to do so.

“Good. Sorry if that caused you pain. Now im going to break your bag of waters. After that, things should progress very quickly. The baby is right there ready to come down the birthing canal.” The girl said with a surety.

“Ok.” The woman said as she grabbed onto that ray of hope to have this labor done with.

“Please help me get her laid down flat and we will need clothes as this is likely to be messy. “ The girl said looking at the fur she was on. “Lets see if we can move just a bit off of the furs.”

Between the other woman, the old woman and Amunet, they got Lana positioned properly. Amunet had to lay down to get this right as she had her legs bent at the knee and spread wide. She washed her hands again for proper sanitation and got to work. The red head felt lightly this time as the bags bulged from the partially dilated cervix. The other hand guided the reed in very gently as the hand in her felt it slide between her palm then let her two fingers act as guides up to the bulge. The midwife took a deep breath and pulled back the reed a little bit and sharply jabbed at the bulge. The slight tear was all it needed as the rest of the bag gave way and the clothes beneath her behind soon became soaked with the birthing fluid.

[Amunet]

Lana began to wail again as the contractions got stronger. “Lana breathe deeply. Look at me. “ getting the woman’s attention. The look in Lana’s eyes told Amunet that it shouldn’t be too long. The reed went to the side and her hand grabbed the woman’s forearm. The little woman breathed with her and counted with her. The other woman was behind her massaging her lower back. The next contraction was a couple of minutes behind this one. “Angle her back slightly. Lana feet flat on the ground. “ The young lady nodded as progress was made.

She requested more clothes, recleaned her dagger to cut the cord and had suturing out just in case. The sutures she got from the River Flower just in case she had to stitch up tears. Once this was set up as Lana’s contractions were about a minute to two minutes apart, she changed the wash water out and refilled it with fresh hot water. Amunet did not address any of the men as yet. This being her second baby, things would probably happen quickly. She removed the soiled clothes and laid down new ones reserving a few for later during the delivery. The midwife put a hand on the pregnant belly and once more went to feel. It was not long in that she felt the head was advancing.

Amunet smiled.”I believe its time for this little one to make an entrance.” With that she looked at Lana, “ On the next contraction you need to push. “ Lana nodded vigorously as she was sweating profusely. The woman started pushing as her face screwed tightly in the effort and she screamed. Amunet put her arms out as the woman grasped them firmly. The little woman was kind of used to this. It would cause bruising but it was what it was. The other woman was behind her encouraging her to push as hard as she could. The full head of hair that was crowning was a good sign but there was one little issue. The head was not small. Lana bore down to push some more and she saw the baby start to push out and Lana screamed. She was tearing. There was no help of it.

Amunet put one hand on the abdomen and the other hand down below the baby’s head as her fingers was rotating along the head to try and help the ease of the head coming out. The birthing fluid was amazing stuff as it was lubricating. “Lana push and push hard. “ The girl said to her. “ The baby is almost here.”

Lana gave a tired little expression as she took a breath. She was so exhausted. Two more breaths and following the urge to push she bore down hard. “Go go go.” As her fingers was at the bottom of the opening. The womanlet out a blood curdling scream that she was pushing through but the head popped out. Amunet turned the baby to the left so the shoulders would pass verticaly which was easier on the already taxed mother. The baby had some weight and was no wonder she was having trouble. The old woman had the clothes to take the now crying baby keeping him close so that Amunet could cut the cord and tie it off to heal properly. The old woman held the crying baby beaming at him proudly.

The other woman was holding Lana in her arms as the poor exhausted woman had passed out. Amunet didn’t really blame her as she waited for the afterbirth to deliver. That happened on its own twenty minutes after the delivery of the baby. Amunet was far from finished as she went on clean up mode. used fresh wash water to clean the lady up. The other woman went to fix the cushions up on the furs as to make the new mother comfortable which gave the midwife an unobtrusive moment to see about those tears. She put a hand on each side of the inner thigh close to the opening as the willingness to heal the woman so she can at least move tomorrow would be accomplished. Otherwise the woman would be bed ridden for a few days with stitches. The swirling sigil again shimmered. It was a tick or two perhaps but that was all that was needed as she continued to check on her cleaning job. The small tears were gone, the big tear was now a small tear which with care will heal on its own without stitches.

[Amunet]

The woman roused to see the young midwife completing the clean up job. She had expected to feel a lot of pain but only felt a little discomfort. Lana pushed that to the side as they got her moved to the furs once she was padded up. Amunet went to the still crying baby who was nice and pink. Amunet checked for fingers, toes, movement. The baby was weighted and measured. The baby was eight pounds and six ounces and twenty one inches long. For a small woman that was not an average baby. It gave her thought of herself. Considering her size and the difficulties her mother had, would she have the same problems? Today was not the day to ponder that, though her thoughts wander to this topic in no small amounts.

She wrapped the baby and swaddled him well as she held the baby close to her crooning to it as he seemed to have exhausted himself from crying. Amunet moved to settle the newborn in the mother’s arms and smiled. Amunet moved away and started packing her things. The old woman knelt by her and whispered. “been a long time since I seen that mark. You do your goddess proud.” The young woman looked at her startled. “this pavilion will not forget your kindness. “

“Your welcome and your thanks is all that’s necessary. My gift is freely given and thus freely given to the people. Thus the great lady’s wish. “ Amunet said softly and quietly. “The baby is strong and healthy. The mother will be fine. She will need rest but she should be up and about tomorrow.” Amunet was attempting to try to change the subject.

The old woman just smiled and nodded.”Of course, we will follow your instructions.”

Amunet put a gentle hand on the old woman. The elder took her hand and felt it. “warm as a cooking fire. Hands of a healer my dear.” The old woman patted her on the back.

Amunet made her way outside with her pack and yvas bag. The waiting men looked at her all at the same time. It was kind of creepy actually. The midwife held up her hand a moment and walked up to her husband who looked at her expectantly.”You have a fine healthy son. Your wife is going to be fine, but she is going to need rest. She should move and walk around tomorrow but very little. She should do no more than what is needed to care for the infant. I will be here in three days to check on her. “

The man looked to the tent and back at the midwife. “Lana.”

“shes fine. Go in and see her and your newborn son.” The other men were clasping him on the shoulders before the man broke out of his reverie to dart to the tent to disappear in it. The girl chuckled and laughed as she moved to Shetanae to prepare for her ride home. There was enough daylight left for that. In the late afternoon she made her way home quietly and before anyone could look for her, she was already disappearing in the horizon headed south to Endrykas.

(word count 3727)

[Tribal]

G R AD I N G

Amunet

Experience

• Observation: 3
• Socialisation: 3
• Riding, Horse: 1
• Rhetoric: 2
• Organisation: 2
• Mathematics: 1
• Medicine: 2
• Carving: 1
• Cleaning: 1
• Childcare: 1

Lore

• Observation: The look of a tired horse
• Medicine: Complications of labour
• Socialisation: Words that help a person relax
• Stages of a healthy birth
• Wounds associated with birth

Notes

Not going to say I enjoyed it (because of the topic), but you did a great job. Kudos. Enjoy the rewards.