The Pregnancy Club °A Teen Pregnancy Story°

The Pregnancy Club - Chapter 15 (Picture of Tanya)

Aimee

All hell was breaking loose in Room 231.

Jen jumped out of her chair, still holding Elijah (I still couldn't understand why she was happy with herself for having a baby), who began to cry.

"Tanya! How far along did you say you were?!" Jen shouted over the wails.

"I'm only eight months I don't know what's happening!" Tanya sounded hysterical.

"We need to get you to the hospital. Now." Jen said firmly as she planted Elijah in the stroller. "Aimee!" She called to me and I jolted upright."I need you to take Elijah while I help Tanya get to my car." I rushed over and grabbed the stroller. It felt strange holding it, but I knew I wouldn't have to worry about it, if I wasn't keeping my baby. Jen, supporting a sweating Tanya, went out the door first, followed by Sadie, Flame and Chastity. I went out last with the stroller. All the librarians turned to stare as a group of pregnant teenagers came rushing out of Room 231. None of them shushed us. People who had been silently checking out books were now running with us, opening doors and offering rides to the hospital. Jen told them that she already had one. 

Jen lead us to her Dodge Grand Caravan, where I buckled Elijah into his booster seat. There wasn't enough room for all of us, so Chastity, the smallest of all of us, had to sit on Flame's lap. Flame didn't look to happy about that.

The hospital wasn't far, but it felt like hours. All the while Jen was chanting "Just breath, honey, breath. That's right keep breathing." While the rest of us shouted supporting words. I said nothing. I didn't know what to say. Tanya was panting, even though Jen wanted her to take "Slow, gentle breaths". Sweat was running down her forehead and her stomach was heaving up and down.

Suddenly Tanya shot open her squeezed eyes. "Michael! Somebody needs to call Michael!" She screamed. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and handed it to me. I guess I had been nominated. I didn't want to ask for his number, so I simply looked through her contacts until I found Michael with a heart beside it. I pressed Talk.

It only took one ring for the guy to answer. "Hey baby." He said, and I was suddenly overcome with a longing for Josh. But I knew I couldn't have an emotional breakdown now.

"Hi, Michael?" I asked.

"Yes . . . wait. Who are you? Where's Tanya." He sounded more urgent now. I glanced over at Tanya, who was letting out loud grunts that I was pretty sure he could hear. "What's going on back there?" He asked. Yep, he can.

"Tanya is . . . fine. But she's gone into labour. I'm Aimee, one of the girls from The Pregnancy Club. She needs you. Now." I said quickly.

"Tanya's in labour?!" He cried. Tanya groaned.

"Yes! Now shut up and get your ass over here! Your girlfriend needs you!" I heard someone giggle in the backseat, but I didn't care that I sounded rude. There wasn't time for a convorsation.

"Right. Tell her I'm coming." I could hear him running, and then I heard a car engine start. Wow. Boy was quick.

"Bye." I shouted over the wails. I held the phone out to Tanya, but she was holding her heaving stomach, so I just dropped it in her purse.

"We're here!" Jen yelled. We all went into action again. Unbuckling our seat belts we raced out of the car. I was running with them until I remembered Elijah. I ran back to the car to grab him. For a toddler in the midst of a woman giving birth, he was surprisingly calm.

I rushed into the lobby to see the rest of the girls in the elevator, and the doors were already closing. I ran over, but then Sadie stuck her hand out to keep them open. I squeezed in with them. Smooth jazz played in the elevator, which really didn't suit the situtation. The doors open and we ran out onto the Maternity Ward.

"What going on?" A nurse ran out from behind a wall, reaching for Tanya.

"Our friend, she's giving birth." Jen panted.

"I need a stretcher!" A nurse shouted, and soon another one came running over, wheeling a large stretcher. We carefully laid down Tanya, and then she was rushed into a spare room. "You can stay here in the waiting room." The nurse called over her shoulder.

We all stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Not many people were in the maternity room, mostly nervous men waiting for their wives to present their new baby. Eventually we all sat down. There were old copies of People magazines, but none of us picked one up. We were too nervous.

Suddenly, a teenage boy with dark skin like Tanya's rushed in, a mix of excitement and nervousness on his face. It had to be Michael. I was about to ask when the nurse came into the waiting room.

"Is anyone here named Michael?" She asked. Michael stepped foreward. "Tanya's asking for you. She want you in there with her." Michael nodded and followed the nurse into Tanya's room. Before he turned the corner he looked over at us and gave a small smile, then he left.

                                                             *           *           *

Three hourse had passed, and Tanya was only in her seventh contraction. She needed ten to start pushing. All we could do now was wait. Jen and Chastity had walked in a few times to check, but me, Flame and Sadie stayed out. I didn't really want to see the details of labour quite yet, even though Jen was encouraging us too.

"It will give you a basis idea of what you need to do. It might come in handy." She hinted, but we stayed put.

Michael came in and out, sometimes making convorsation with the rest of us.

"Is it true that you and Tanya actually wanted a baby?" Flame asked.

"Yes. I'm in love with Tanya. I couldn't imagine living with anyone else." I thought of the disgusted look Josh gave me when I told him. I kind of liked Michael's outlook more.

                                                                   *            *            *

After another two hours Tanya was into her tenth contraction, and that was when everyone sprang into action. Many of the people that were here had left, and now new families were coming in to meet the new baby. I actually did go in and peeked, only to be horrified by the sight in front of me. I didn't go back in after, until the nurse came out again.

"She wants all of you in there. She needs your help." She stated, and then left again. We all looked at each other, and then slowly made our way to her room. I closed my eyes until I was standing beside her front end. I didn't think she'd mind.

"Aaaaaaaaaggggggghhhhh!" Tanya let out another scream, we had been hearing those for a while now. I wondered how much labour hurt.

"Come on baby, push!" Jen shouted, holding her hand, and Tanya screamed again.

"Do it for us, baby!" Michael shouted, holding Tanya's other hand. The rest of us stood beside her, lending supportive words. I still said nothing.I was standing right beside Jen, so I could see the determination on Tanya's face, the sweat running down her face.

Tanya got into a rythem. She would breath five times, then push. Five breaths, and push. Five breaths, and push. Nothing was happening, until the doctor cried, "I see the head! Keep pushing!"

Now Tanya was really into it, putting her all into each push. The screams got louder. I was terrified.

"Keep going, keep going!" The doctor sounded giddy with excitement. I took a quick peek, and saw a small, bloody head poking out. I backed into the wall, banging my head. It's going to be bloody? How is that thing beautiful?

"Here it comes! Last one!" The doctor cried, and it was like the rest of the world froze, and it was only us in the room, watching Tanya give birth. I could see Tanya squeeze Jen and Michael's hand, and give that last push. Her scream was bloodcurdling, and her whole body was convulsing, and I heard a wet, slimy sound. Tanya's stomach fell. The doctors and nurses all huddled around Tanya, and the rest of us backed up. The doctor lifted up the small, bloody creature. It's eyes were squeezed shut, and a small wail was escaping his lips.

"It's a boy." The doctor said, and that was the last thing I remembered before I fainted.