[alaklondewen]

The long hours passed slowly and Lairwyn tried her best to comfort Maedlyn as her birthing pains became more intense and more frequent until they ran together ceasing to give the mother a break. The day was setting into early evening and the midwife checked Maedlyn’s progress once more. A sparkle appeared in Lairwyn’s eyes and as she began to situate the extra linens Lathyn had found, she said simply, “It’s time.”

Lathyn, who had been sitting next to the bed holding her mother’s hand, widened her eyes and looked uncertainly at the midwife. “For the baby, Miss Lairwyn? Is it really time?”

Lairwyn slightly chuckled and assured the young girl that it was indeed time for the baby. “Maedlyn, if I support your back, can you raise up long enough for Lathyn to slip a pillow behind you? You will need to sit higher to ease the passage of the babe.” Maedlyn nodded with her face knotted with pain. “Just tell me when.” Lairwyn did not want to force any movement that might increase the mother’s intense discomfort. Maedlyn relaxed slightly and the midwife lifted her slowly until another pillow was securely in place.

“Lathyn, dear, why don’t you go out and tell your father that the baby is coming and everything is proceeding as normal.” The little girl stood up and, after a long glance at her mother, she hurried out of the room.

Lairwyn waited until she heard the outside door latch and then she instructed Maedlyn to begin pushing when she felt the pressure in her abdomen increase. Lairwyn guided Maedlyn through the next forty-five minutes, until finally the baby’s head could be seen.

Suddenly catching her breath, Lairwyn made an unexpected and troubling discovery. The cord was wrapped around the child’s neck. Maedlyn could see the distress in the midwife’s face and nervously asked if there was problem. Lairwyn silently shook her head, not wanting to alarm Maedlyn. Slowly, carefully, Lairwyn slid her fingers between the cord and the babe’s neck and pulled the cord over the child’s head. She could not be sure the baby was unharmed until Maedlyn finished which only took a few more minutes, and the baby had finally arrived in the world.

“You have a beautiful baby boy, Maedlyn.” There was no question as to the health of the baby…he was squirming like a worm and crying in less than a minute. Lairwyn wrapped him in a warm blanket and placed him on his mother’s chest.

The outer door opened immediately and Lairwyn could hear hurried footsteps coming toward the back of the house.