- 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 -

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝚆𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴 𝙶𝚆𝙴𝙽 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙺𝚂 𝙾𝚄𝚃.

Blake's body shifted in bed, his eyes glancing at the alarm clock on the nightstand. The glowing digits indicated that it was almost 10 AM, and he knew that they had a midwife coming to their home in an hour for a birth class. Next to him, Gwen lay on her side, a soft pillow nestled between her knees. Her growing bump pressed into the mattress, the only position that brought her a semblance of comfort. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the gentle sound of their breathing. Blake couldn't help but smile at the sight of his pregnant wife, and he hated to disturb her peaceful slumber, but time was ticking away.

He leaned over, brushing a strand of loose blonde hair away from Gwen's face. A soft smile played on his lips as he whispered, "Hey, baby. It's time to wake up."

Gwen let out a groan, a familiar protest whenever she was woken. "No, let me sleep" She mumbled, attempting to keep her eyes firmly shut.

Blake placed a gentle hand on her stomach. "Sorry, pretty girl. You can take a nap later, the midwife will be here in an hour" he reminded her, his voice gentle. Gwen's brown eyes shot open, filled with a hint of worry.

"I don't want to do it anymore" She murmured, her voice uncertain. Blake sighed, running his calloused thumb over Gwen's puffy cheek. He had been expecting this.

"I know you're nervous, honey, but I really think this could help you. She can explain what to expect so you don't freak out in the delivery room" Blake tried to reassure her, even though he knew that Gwen would probably still panic when the time came.

Gwen sighed, knowing her husband was right, but something was still bothering her. She gazed up at him, confusion clouding her tired eyes.

"Why do you want to do this?" She asked, intrigued. Blake merely shrugged, his expression one of slight embarrassment, but he knew Gwen absolutely wouldn't do this if he didn't show enough enthusiasm for the both of them.

"I guess I want to know what's going to happen when you go into labour," He admitted sheepishly. "When this baby comes out of you, I want to know how best to support you."

Gwen couldn't help but be astounded by Blake's genuine interest in this entire process. She had half expected him to run for the hills at the very thought of childbirth, but here he was, continuing to prove her wrong. Blake planted a light kiss on Gwen's head and helped her to her feet, before she waddled into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Given that they were going to be at home all day and Gwen anticipated she would need to try a variety of different positions, she opted for black leggings and a loose white t-shirt. She threw her messy blonde hair up into a topknot and kept her swollen feet bare.

Gwen descended the stairs with slight difficulty, finding her husband already dressed and brunch waiting for her on the table.

"Do you want some juice?" He asked, placing a cushion on her seat and pushing her in. Gwen couldn't help but grin, still trying to get used to this new domestic version of her husband.

"Yes, please!"

Blake poured a glass of refreshing orange juice, setting it in front of her, earning a grateful peck on the cheek. Deep down, what Gwen really wanted was coffee, but she knew that wouldn't be happening for a few months yet. For now, juice would have to do.

As they ate the eggs and smoked ham, Blake attempted to engage Gwen in small talk, but he could sense that her mind was elsewhere. He assumed she was feeling anxious, so he cleaned up the breakfast dishes, before forcing Gwen to sit on the couch while he set about tidying the living room.

"Blake, I'm perfectly capable of doing that!" Gwen protested, a hint of irritation in her voice. Ignoring her objection, he neatly arranged the couch cushions beside her. "I know," he assured her with a quick smile. Undeterred, Blake moved the dog beds to the hallway to make space for the birth class.

Once the living room was clean, Blake sat down next to his wife. Gwen extended her legs onto her husband's lap, her lips pouting in a silent plea for her swollen feet to be rubbed. With an affectionate sigh, Blake began massaging the swelling, both of them engrossed in a 90s sitcom on the television.

It wasn't long before the dog started barking and they heard the sound of gravel crunching on the driveway.

"She's here!" Blake announced, helping Gwen to her feet. He couldn't help but notice the fear in her expression. He placed a reassuring hand on her waist and leaned in for a tender kiss.

"It's going to be fine, sweetie" He reassured her with another quick kiss. Gwen closed her eyes, nodding in agreement. She ushered the dogs outside before following Blake to the front door to greet the midwife.

"Hi Mr & Mrs Shelton, I'm Linda" she greeted warmly.

Linda was a short woman, standing only an inch or two taller than Gwen. She looked about mid 50s, with a stocky figure and short, dark gelled back hair.

"Hi," Blake extended his hand for a handshake, before Gwen did the same. "Please, just Blake & Gwen." He insisted and Linda responded with a warm smile, lugging in her huge bag of equipment.

"So, I've brought a few things along to show you, and hopefully I'll be able to answer any questions that might come up for you. Where would you like me to set up?" Linda asked, and Blake led her into the living room, since it was spacious, and he knew that's where Gwen would feel most comfortable. She hesitated at his side, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"Well, then. Take a seat" Linda instructed cheerfully as she placed her laptop on the coffee table, adjusting it to face them. Blake sat on the sofa, with Gwen sat so close to him that she was almost on top of him, her hand gripping his in anticipation.

"First things first, do you have a birth plan?" Linda asked as she set up the powerpoint presentation and Gwen's eyes widened, she hadn't known to write one.

"Ummm, no" She admitted guiltily. Linda responded with a reassuring smile.
"That's perfectly okay. Hopefully by the end of today, you'll know a little more and feel more comfortable writing one." She remarked as if it were nothing and Gwen breathed a sigh of relief, she was starting to feel a little better about this.

"Now then, I've reviewed the scans and measurements you sent me, so I've tailored this class to cater to your specific needs" Linda explained once everything was set up. Blake and Gwen listened attentively, absorbing the details of the scientific portion of their class.

In intricate detail, Linda spoke about the mechanics of Gwen's reproductive organs during labor. Gwen couldn't help but feel a little nauseous as she listened to Linda's expertise. To her surprise, Gwen noticed Blake studying the charts and diagrams with intense focus, and she was amazed when he nervously interjected with a question.

"How can they tell when the cervix is fully dilated?" He asked curiously and Linda explained the process of vaginal examinations, but Gwen was only half listening, captivated by her husband's newfound interest.

"Any more questions?" Linda asked, and both Blake and Gwen shook their heads, although Gwen was sure she would have more questions later on, once she was done processing everything she'd learnt.

"Alright then. Let's talk about pain management. Have you given it much thought?" Linda turned her attention to Gwen, who shook her head, slightly embarrassed. "Not really," she admitted, blushing a little. Gwen felt a reassuring squeeze on her thigh from her husband. To be honest, she really did want to have a natural birth, but she wanted to be aware of other options, just in case.

Linda moved on to explaining the workings of an epidural, and Blake gave occasional nods, showing that he understood. When Linda paused, Blake took the opportunity to ask more questions, leaving Gwen gobsmacked yet again, watching her husband with a mix of amusement and admiration.

"Are there any downsides to an epidural? Any potential long term effects?" Blake asked then, eyebrows raised. Linda was slightly taken aback, this was definitely the most involved dad-to-be she had come across.

"The epidural is excellent when it comes to numbing pain, but it does make it harder to push, since you can't feel the baby moving as well," Linda told them, and they both nodded in understanding.

"And say Gwen was keen for a natural birth, what are the options there?" Blake fired off another question, catching Gwen off guard. It seemed like he was better prepared to have this baby than she was.

"Well, if you want a natural birth, the two main options for relief are massage and breathing. Some women find it helps to labor or birth in water," Linda told them and Gwen gulped nervously, she could sense that this next part wasn't going to be fun.

"Okay, I'm going to guide you both through a few birthing positions and labor support techniques," Linda declared, prompting Gwen to take a brief break, while Blake helped Linda to set up some equipment.

As Gwen made her way back to the living room, she lingered uncertainly in the doorway, until Blake held out his hand and Gwen nestled into his side, slightly intimidated by the equipment she saw laid out in front of her.

"Alright, why don't we start with a position you may already be familiar with?" Linda suggested and had Blake sit on the couch with his legs spread apart, before helping Gwen to sit between his legs and lean against Blake for support.

"Blake, reach around and hold Gwen's legs here" Linda directed as she adjusted his hands to support Gwen's thighs, keeping her legs apart. Gwen closed her eyes, finding this entire thing overwhelming and awkward.

"This is the most common position used in hospitals. But, there's options. Blake, you don't have to stay back there. You can prop Gwen up with pillows and stand beside her. It's entirely up to the both of you" Linda explained.

Next, Linda guided Blake to kneel beside the couch as Gwen lay on her side, with Blake supporting her thigh, so there was an open path for the baby to come out.

"I don't like this one," Gwen remarked, she found it uncomfortable and strange. Nodding, Blake gave her a quick, encouraging kiss and helped her back into a sitting position. Undeterred, Linda moved on to the next position, which involved Gwen birthing on her hands and knees. Blake kept his hand on the small of her back while Gwen situated herself, but Blake knew she wouldn't want to give birth with her naked butt in the air, so as soon as Linda was done with her explanations, Blake helped Gwen climb down so she was seated on the couch.

Next was the birthing stool, placed in front of the couch for Gwen to squat on. The second she was perched on it, Gwen reached to be pulled onto her feet, hating the feeling of being squatted over a potty.

To finish up this section of the class, Linda had Gwen lean over the back of the couch, showing Blake techniques to massage Gwen's back and pelvic muscles, an activity Gwen wasn't going to object to, sore after navigating through various positions for the last hour.

"Okay, you guys can take a seat. I'll leave you with a booklet with a few more positions you might like to try in your own time" Linda told them as Blake settled on the couch next to his wife, his eyes widening as he read the title of the next slide.

"Let's talk a little about birth complications" Linda began and Gwen took a deep breath, unsure if she wanted to know everything that could go wrong, she was already nervous enough.

"Try not to let this scare you too much; it's important to remember the the majority of births go quite smoothly" Linda reassured them and Blake instinctively squeezed Gwen's hand as they tried to brace themselves for whatever they were about to hear.

"The most common issue is tearing," Linda continued, and Gwen felt her entire body tense at the mere thought. "Tearing is typically caused by having a larger baby, or the muscles not stretching far enough."

As Linda delved into the details, Gwen couldn't help but think about her doctor telling her that she was going to deliver a big baby. The prospect of her body undergoing such strain was enough to make Gwen's stomach churn.

"One thing I did want to discuss is a procedure called an episiotomy. Just because your measurements do indicate a bigger baby, I do want to run through that procedure. Don't worry too much, it's more than likely not going to happen." Linda reassured them, keeping her voice calm, but Gwen couldn't shake the knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. Her gaze was fixed on Linda, steeling herself for what she was about to hear.

"It's a precautionary measure, just in case the baby's head gets stuck. The doctor will make a small incision to give the baby more room to come out" Linda explained, keeping her terminology simple. Gwen's eyes widened as Linda spoke and she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry, feeling the weight of what was to come in the next few months. Blake thought he might pass out at the very thought of a pair of scissors cutting his wife's vagina. He swallowed hard, glancing over at Gwen, who's hands were trembling. As uncomfortable as he felt right now, he knew he needed to be strong for Gwen's sake.

As Linda finished speaking, she looked up at the expectant mother, who's chocolate brown eyes were clouded over with unshed tears, and her husband's arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders in a protective embrace.

"I'm sorry if this is confronting, I don't mean to scare you, but it's important we talk about these things now so it's not a surprise when you're in the delivery room" Linda's empathy resonated with the couple, who nodded in understanding.

"I think that's enough for today. I'll leave you both with a birth video you might want to watch in your own time. Maybe put some thought into a birth plan too and send it to me" Linda told them as she packed up her things.

Both Blake & Gwen saw Linda out, shaking her hand before Blake walked Linda to her car and helped her pack her equipment, watching as she drove off. As soon as he was back in the living room, Blake frowned as he saw Gwen sat on the couch, holding the birth DVD in her hands and crying softly.

Blake rushed over, his forehead creased in concern as he gently guided Gwen so that she was sitting in his lap, his arms enveloping her and coming to rest on her sides, molding to the curves of her rounded belly.

"I can't do it" Gwen spoke softly, letting a few tears fall. Blake's heart dropped as he heard how defeated she sounded, but he wasn't about to let her believe that.

"Don't say that, pretty girl." He told her, his tone reassuring. "You are the strongest, most capable woman I know, and there's no doubt in my mind that you are going to birth this baby like it's nobody's business" Gwen couldn't help but crack a smile at his enthusiasm.

He pressed a tender kiss to Gwen's rosy cheek, her breaths slowing as she absorbed her husband's comforting words. As she rested against him, her head resting on his shoulder, Blake found a soft smile playing on his lips.

She was Gwen Stefani and if she couldn't do this, nobody could.