In the last Antenatal classes Jia Li went for, Fu Hua was not with her. He dropped her off and went to sit in the car. They were teaching them the three stages of labor and he wasn't allowed.
While Jia Li was learning, Fu Hua was in the car thinking about her Birthday which was in a few days.
He was thinking of what to do for her. Throwing a party is not an option in her condition, as she was not herself these days. The baby was also coming in a few days as well, therefore, it wasn't appropriate.
After classes, Jia Li texted Fu Hua, so he could come with her to see the doctor.
After putting her phone back in her bag, Jia Li felt a powerful kick from the baby and her face squeezed in pain with her hand on that area that was kicked.
A nurse nearby came to her side and held her arm as she asked in a worried tone, "Ma'am, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Jia Li replied as she slowly regained herself.
"Do you want to sit?" The nurse inquired and slowly let go of her arm.
"No thank you, there is no need." Jia Li replied when she caught sight of Fu Hua.
The nurse saw Fu Hua and moved a few steps away from Jia Li.
"Are you okay?" Fu Hua asked worriedly after he saw her face wasn't looking good.
Jia Li smiled, "I'm fine. Jasmine kicks so strongly."
"I'm sorry. I guess she can't wait to be out." Fu Hua replied with a hand over her baby bump. He had an affectionate gaze while doing so.
"Mr. Fu, Mrs. Fu, Dr. Clinton is waiting." The nurse by the side reminded them with a polite smile.
Fu Hua placed his hand behind Jia Li, as they followed the nurse to Dr. Clinton's office which was upstairs.
Dr. Clinton chatted with them for a short while. She talked to Jia Li about the labor stages she learned before going on to perform a pelvic examination.
Fu Hua insisted on going with her and Jia Li relaxed a bit. With her husband there, she didn't have to worry much.
While performing the pelvic examination, Jia Li screamed and held unto Fu Hua's hands.
Fu Hua could only comfort her with worry written all over his face.
The doctor apologized and proceeded to them what she examined.
"Your baby has engaged, I can feel her head in the amniotic sac, and she is looking towards your left hip bone."
Jia Li let out a deep breath as the doctor pulled his fingers out of her.
"When will the baby come out?" Fu Hua asked worriedly.
"Her cervix has already begun to open at two finger-breadths. Labour should start soon. Bring her back in 2 days, along with the bag." Dr. Clinton replied while cleaning Jia Li up before going on to show them their baby on the screen.
The bag she was talked about was known commonly as the labor bag, which Jia Li had packed in preparation for the birth of her baby.
Jia Li was nervous and her blood pressure rose when the doctor was checking it.
"Calm down and take deep breaths. Don't think too much about the labor, it's a normal process for you to deliver your little princess." Dr. Clinton assured her with a smile.
"I don't know but I can't seem to calm down." Jia Li replied while taking in deep breaths. Fu Hua rubbed her back and tried to comfort her as well.
Fu Hua could understand what Jia Li was going through. Giving birth to a child was not an easy task and it came with a lot of risks as well. He was worried about her and didn't know what else to do than to comfort her.
"It's normal to be nervous after hearing your baby would be out in 2-3 days. You've been expecting her for a long time and now she will be out, you are nervous to meet her. Just try to take deep breaths. Go on and practice the breathing exercises you were taught." Dr. Clinton said as she took off her gloves, while the nurse took away the equipment for taking her blood pressure (Sphygmomanometer).
Fu Hua stood and watched Jia Li practice her breathing exercises till her nerves slowly relaxed.
Surprisingly, Dr. Clinton handed her about 5 lollipops ?"Take them, it will help to calm your nerves down anytime you feel nervous."
"Thank you!" Jia Li said and took the sweets from her.
"Don't eat too much of them." Dr. Clinton advised with a smile.
Before they left, Dr. Clinton reminded Jia Li of the exercise to practice before she comes back to the hospital.
"…eat healthily, you will need a lot of strength to push your baby out. Take walks as often as possible. Climb the stairs in your house, all these will help to facilitate the labor."
On their way back home, Fu Hua kept glancing between the road, Jia Li and the baby bump.
"Stop staring at me and keep your eyes on the road, you are going to get us in an accident." Jia Li said in a low tone.
"I'm so worried about you." Fu Hua confessed. He should be encouraging her but he was more scared than her.
"Well, you're making me worried. When we get home, you can look at me all you want." Jia Li replied with creased brows.
"Alright, I will listen to you. Do you want anything? Do you want to go somewhere?" Fu Hua asked with his eyes on the road.
"I want to go to the children's park." Jia Li replied and let out a deep breath.
"What? Why would you want to go there?" Fu Hua asked in surprise. He was thinking she wanted to go there to play and that made him surprised.
"I just want to sit there and eat cotton candy while watching the children play. I need to calm down." Jia Li replied.
"Okay, but that place is usually busy. You have to let me hold your hands okay?" Fu Hua replied. Since she wanted to calm her nerves, then he would let her. He was only scared that the park would be bustling with people and she may be bumped into by a child or an adult.
