also really great parents. And my parents were young, and they ended up getting divorced…so I just wasn’t sure.”
“Don’t worry, Nat,” she assured her. “None of our parents are terribly young. We require that they be married for at least seven years. So even if you said you wanted ‘young’ parents, they would have to be old enough to fit our requirements. Does that make sense?”
She nodded. “Definitely. I just thought I’d clear that up.”
“And did you take the doctor’s form to your obstetrician?”
“Yeah. They said they’d get it back to you by the end of the week.”
“Great.”
“So that’s it?”
“Unless you have any other questions.”
“Well, that booklet pretty much explained what happens when the baby is born. But I guess I’m still curious. Am I supposed to talk to the adoptive parents? I know that I won’t know their names or anything, but I’d kind of like to just talk to them. Really briefly, you know.”
“That’s not a problem. The adoptive parents will be coming from out of state, and I’m sure they’d like to meet you as well.”
“Good.”
“So how are you feeling?” she asked Nat.
“Big and fat.”
Mrs. Stein laughed. “That’ll change soon.”
“And I keep having these Braxton Hicks contractions. They’re driving me nuts.”
“That’s just your body’s way of getting in shape so you’ll be ready for labor.”
“I know. But I’m ready already.”
“Have you taken the hospital’s childbirth class yet?”
Nat frowned. “Ben and I had signed up to take it last month. But we never made it.”
“Don’t they have that class every Tuesday night?” Mrs. Stein asked.
“I guess.”
“I could go with you, Nat,” I offered.
“Really?” She looked at me. “You’d be willing to be my labor coach?”
“Labor coach?”
“That means you stay with Nat when she’s having the baby. You go into the delivery room with her,” Mrs. Stein explained. “You help her with breathing and give her ice chips and just general encouragement. Are you good with that sort of thing?”
“I don’t know…”
“She used to be a real wimp when it came to hospital stuff,” Natalie told her, then turned to me. “But you’ve changed a lot, Kim. I think going through the thing with your mom, well, that’s made you a lot tougher. Don’t you think?”
I nodded. “I guess.”
“So would you be willing to be Natalie’s labor coach?” Mrs. Stein asked. “It’s a pretty big commitment.”
“Don’t do it if you don’t want to,” said Nat.
“Yes,” agreed Mrs. Stein. “I’m sure we can find someone around here who would be willing. My assistant, Jessie, has done it several times.”
“No…” I said slowly, considering my response even as I answered. “I think I’d like to do it.” I smiled at Nat. “I mean, we’ve already been through so much together. Why back out now?”
“Good.” Mrs. Stein actually clapped her hands. “That’s excellent.”
Tuesday, December 19
So it is that I find myself in a meeting room at the hospital with a bunch of pregnant women. And oh yeah, some husbands and “partners” too. A midwife named Ramona teaches this class. She looks like a real earth muffin to me, with her long braided hair, baggy clothes, and funky shoes. In fact, she reminds me of my cousin Maya, which reminds me I haven’t heard from her in at least a month. Maybe no news is good news.
Ramona gives us some reading materials as well as some general tips about things like breathing, timing contractions, and keeping the mother-to-be relaxed and happy. Then we take a quick tour of the hospital, primarily the labor and delivery section. We’re also shown the patient admittance area, cafeteria, and emergency entrance. “In case you go into labor after midnight,” Ramona explains.
Then we’re taken back to the original room, where we are shown a film of a real birth. Now, okay, I’m trying to be a good sport here, but I’m
“Don’t worry, Nat,” she assured her. “None of our parents are terribly young. We require that they be married for at least seven years. So even if you said you wanted ‘young’ parents, they would have to be old enough to fit our requirements. Does that make sense?”
She nodded. “Definitely. I just thought I’d clear that up.”
“And did you take the doctor’s form to your obstetrician?”
“Yeah. They said they’d get it back to you by the end of the week.”
“Great.”
“So that’s it?”
“Unless you have any other questions.”
“Well, that booklet pretty much explained what happens when the baby is born. But I guess I’m still curious. Am I supposed to talk to the adoptive parents? I know that I won’t know their names or anything, but I’d kind of like to just talk to them. Really briefly, you know.”
“That’s not a problem. The adoptive parents will be coming from out of state, and I’m sure they’d like to meet you as well.”
“Good.”
“So how are you feeling?” she asked Nat.
“Big and fat.”
Mrs. Stein laughed. “That’ll change soon.”
“And I keep having these Braxton Hicks contractions. They’re driving me nuts.”
“That’s just your body’s way of getting in shape so you’ll be ready for labor.”
“I know. But I’m ready already.”
“Have you taken the hospital’s childbirth class yet?”
Nat frowned. “Ben and I had signed up to take it last month. But we never made it.”
“Don’t they have that class every Tuesday night?” Mrs. Stein asked.
“I guess.”
“I could go with you, Nat,” I offered.
“Really?” She looked at me. “You’d be willing to be my labor coach?”
“Labor coach?”
“That means you stay with Nat when she’s having the baby. You go into the delivery room with her,” Mrs. Stein explained. “You help her with breathing and give her ice chips and just general encouragement. Are you good with that sort of thing?”
“I don’t know…”
“She used to be a real wimp when it came to hospital stuff,” Natalie told her, then turned to me. “But you’ve changed a lot, Kim. I think going through the thing with your mom, well, that’s made you a lot tougher. Don’t you think?”
I nodded. “I guess.”
“So would you be willing to be Natalie’s labor coach?” Mrs. Stein asked. “It’s a pretty big commitment.”
“Don’t do it if you don’t want to,” said Nat.
“Yes,” agreed Mrs. Stein. “I’m sure we can find someone around here who would be willing. My assistant, Jessie, has done it several times.”
“No…” I said slowly, considering my response even as I answered. “I think I’d like to do it.” I smiled at Nat. “I mean, we’ve already been through so much together. Why back out now?”
“Good.” Mrs. Stein actually clapped her hands. “That’s excellent.”
Tuesday, December 19
So it is that I find myself in a meeting room at the hospital with a bunch of pregnant women. And oh yeah, some husbands and “partners” too. A midwife named Ramona teaches this class. She looks like a real earth muffin to me, with her long braided hair, baggy clothes, and funky shoes. In fact, she reminds me of my cousin Maya, which reminds me I haven’t heard from her in at least a month. Maybe no news is good news.
Ramona gives us some reading materials as well as some general tips about things like breathing, timing contractions, and keeping the mother-to-be relaxed and happy. Then we take a quick tour of the hospital, primarily the labor and delivery section. We’re also shown the patient admittance area, cafeteria, and emergency entrance. “In case you go into labor after midnight,” Ramona explains.
Then we’re taken back to the original room, where we are shown a film of a real birth. Now, okay, I’m trying to be a good sport here, but I’m
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