Taylor's POV
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbvuvdJfzx
"So when you're breastfeeding" the midwife explains. Shes an older woman, around late fifties. Wearing a pink pinafore with cropped dark hair.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl44wXLQhH
Jay is sitting behind me on the maternity ball. I'm resting back onto him. Trying to not laugh at the little dolly we've been given for practise. He's already stood up and demonstrated how to burp a baby, it was both the most adorable thing I've ever seen and the funniest.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh59gw0SFH
"You can choose which position suits you the most" she goes on. Demonstrating several positions with the dummy over her apron.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISaaEpHPUm
"I like the look of the rugby hold" he whispers in my ear and I smirk.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyluZOIsZN8
"I guess we just see where baby wants to lay and what's comfiest" I snicker.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWllV6e2vU
"There's also the side lying position which is fabulous for night time feeding" the nurse demonstrates.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJzy2sqmvt
The midwife begins discussing birth options and with Jay's hands around bump holding me close I feel ready to have this introduction into what is most likely going to be one of the most challenging moments in my life. The most rewarding and the most life changing. I smile looking down at his hands on bump and wrapping my fingers around his he holds onto me tight.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCCsTtD4mV
"Water births are popular" she begins and I'm already leaning into this option.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1e0S4GL2s
"They are great for uncomplicated births, but sometimes to ensure the safety of everybody we may need to monitor things more closely" she explains.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplnJVwSLuD
"That's when we would require that the birth takes place in a hospital bed. You can also opt for a home birth. However we must remind you that should baby or indeed mother need urgent care we would have to escort all members to hospital." She says softly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5O2INDJea
"No home births" I whisper to Jay and he nods. I can't imagine anything worse than having a complication, with me or baby, and having to rush to the hospital.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEHfyZ8fLq
"As midwives, as much as possible we want to make your journey into becoming parents as stress free and painless" she smiles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PyfdbBmqx
"As possible. We will always opt for what you want and advise you during your birth" she says.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6j27CsXN8
"So" the nurse says.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RAGDtcTrD
"Pain relief" she finishes.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WFHmujY0q
"We have gas and air which carries no risk or side effects. The gas takes twenty seconds to work and you can breathe it in just as your contraction begins." She informs us.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK7MXFLqSO
"There are also pethidine injections. These are injections in your thigh. However these are not recommended if you are close to pushing. They take around twenty minutes to work. These should not be administered close to pushing as they may affect babies breathing. Should this happen a second medication will be given to reverse the effect" she explains and I nod.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12mU3uzM2f
"Epidural is a type of local anaesthetic. It offers full pain relief and is injected by an anaesthetist. However these are clearly not available for home births. You will need to be monitored along side baby. With an epidural you may not be able to feel your contractions and therefore we will tell you when to push." She explains.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4cYj1fME2
"Most importantly, although it can be hard, it's important to remain as calm as possible and to breathe through your contractions. Also having amazing partners" she says looking to the non pregnant people in the room.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyBlDIx6Jn
"Is crucial, that they are supportive and active in labour, we have found makes a monumental difference" she smiles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXd4k5DFDh
"Check" I whisper to Jay and he chuckles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ0xbCvJRp
"Interventions such as forceps and ventouse can be used too. Ventouse is a vacuum cup and forceps are used by an obstetrician to help deliver your baby" she explains.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwKoqOPjSa
"On occasions and where needed a caesarean section may be required to deliver baby safely. This is often used as an option when we feel it would be most safe for both parent and baby" she informs us.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzKriSRqdL
"Once baby is delivered, skin to skin time is important and helps with breastfeeding" she explains, and I sigh thinking about having a baby lying on my chest. So tiny and delicate.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVLvk3T8hG
I turn to face Jay and he smiles at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee7DH0VEDu
"It's important to take your time navigating parenthood together. To get the rest you need and to enjoy those first moments with your little one" she explains softly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8W5amSKnH
Jay collects us some more pamphlets and feeling even more like a beached whale I remove myself from the exercise ball. He guides me out of the hospital and really I feel much more confident about the whole thing, more armed with options and knowledge.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rYRCyHzfQ
"Darling" he says in his southern accent and I smile up at him as he starts up the Audi.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzurGcqnMPG
"You're going to be amazing" he says rubbing bump briefly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6v5L25767
"However baby enters this world, you will have done all of the work and I can't ever thankyou enough for it" he says softly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVHB21g89G
"Jay, I can't thank you enough for putting a baby in me" I smile over at him and he blushes.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NPGCAH8q8
"Now my love" he says and I smirk.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ywSbj2C6
"Let's go and see your mother" he says laughing.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82L3wQAm85
He drives us into town. Glancing out of the tinted windows, I take in the palm trees and pulling my sunglasses down I look over at him. The man of my dreams.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eOb66N8SU
"You know I do miss Italy already" I say softly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroKZxOcVJy
"You do huh" he smiles rubbing my thigh.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnnlecyq6p
"Yes, it has a charm about it doesn't it" I say softly and he nods.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbbmk04FcT
He has booked a reservation at Osteria Vera, he knows it's one of my favourites. The Italian food he said will remind me of home. I blushed and he kissed me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9IC1TJX4y
"We need to compare LA pasta to Tuscany pasta" I say to him as we walk over to the restaurant.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokP5SgFFjE
"Your pasta is always my favourite" he smiles at me. He holds open the door for me just like I knew he would. Walking in first I take in the rustic feel of the restaurant, remembering it from before. The wooden tables with the roses on them. Soft music playing in the background.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwZ4R1wAQt
"Mr and Mrs Gilbert Scott" he says softly to the server at the front of the restaurant. The man, dressed formally, guides us over to our table.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3QCcUTX0V
My mother sits waiting patiently, and as I approach her, a warm smile stretches across her face and she begins to cry. Wiping her eyes, she's wearing a flowing skirt and a white camisole. Her hair combed back into a ponytail, it reminds me of my own. Of how she would brush my hair and pull it into a long braid when I was little girl.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6lYKfl7fy
"My baby" she says hugging me as I reach her.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkyzPCmUl2
"Mum" I say softly looking over her shoulder and holding her tight.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEmPybKeBq
"How are you my darling" she says holding me at arms length. She moves my hair over my shoulder and smiles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28lL08l5qL
"I'm great mum, you look well" I say smiling.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj64Po14GI
Mum hugs Jay, he smiles at me over her shoulder and I take a seat down at the table. Resting myself and bump.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CJxD6s5h0
Jay takes the seat next to mine and rests his arm around my back, mum seated in front of us.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyfVuiuxLN
"Taylor you have most certainly popped, my goodness it must be close now" mum begins looking over at us.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6UNE3ozci
"Well we had a scan, a 3D one in Italy, and we only have four weeks left till I'm due" I say and she gasps, I pull out a picture from my purse and hand her the image of baby.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiGw71Q89V
"Oh my, that's a boy" she says softly tears falling from her eyes. We both laugh and she looks up at us star struck.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoywCqOufB
"Italy you say" she says looking from Jay to myself.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbRTw20VUu
"We came back from our honeymoon early due to an accident, Ross had a car accident" I say looking down and she watches me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNL8ydB5db
"Is he okay?" she asks
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjzQYmiVGX
"Yes he will be just fine, he's lucky. So we decided to go to Italy to finish off our honeymoon" I tell her. We also bought a farm house, and we're actually only back for a week or so, I think to myself but let's not give mum a heart attack breaking all the news at once.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbJKRgzJza
"I'm glad he's okay, the blonde one wasn't he? The one that looks like he could be your younger brother" she says to Jay smirking and he laughs.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA4MIfMUPV
"Yes that's Ross" I say to mum laughing.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dicu6XahK
"I'm glad he is okay, and recovering. Taylor goodness you look so well. Radiant and tanned... and happy" she smiles at me and then at Jay.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXyCbs2MDa
"It's all the lying in the sun" I say laughing.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmpu2I9JiM
"And this one here" I say smirking looking up at Jay.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IN4JXpXTW
"Your hair is longer, I think it's a whole shade lighter Taylor" she laughs and I smile at her.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3EDoiGdBP
I tell her all about the Villa, the pool and the surrounding area of the Amalfi coast. She smiles listening to me occasionally looking over at Jay with an expression of approval and love. He sits back watching me talk and get excited about our time away smiling at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw2wj9HLrd
"May I take your orders" the waiter asks smiling at me. My first thoughts are can you not see the huge round bump surrounding my tummy.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7468xkcCpR
"Pappardelle" I say softly and the waiter smiles at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FuYzy4vAa
"I'll have the ravioli" mum says and he notes it down.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ011FqlTaMe
"Tagliolini Neri" Jay asks and I smile over at him picking out a positively fish dish.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7NgjOpfcf
"Would you like some water and bread for the table" he says looking at me and I nod yes.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPUx06Yl4Q
"Grazie" I say to the waiter and he smirks.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3IgLpEVi5
"Grazie Bella" he responds heading off to fulfill our order. Jay smirks down at me and I chuckle slightly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbYr05sRZZ
Mum smiles over at us. My mother is not a woman that hides her emotions well, it's usually written all over her face. I decide it's time to break the news to her, after all we will be able to travel to and from Italy very easily.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsytw7MjjcT
"We decided we liked Italy a bit more than just as a vacation" I say softly and she smirks.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAO27GUwEE
"Jay kind of bought something rather big out there in the form of a farmhouse" I laugh and she looks over at him shocked. We never were able to invest in property. Mum is used to living in the same place, and has done so for most of her life. It's something I think about a lot now, how I can introduce her to new parts of the world with our two interconnecting families.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXYiUMMR57
"That's wow" she says softly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5nbTM6n4t
Jay pulls his phone out and pulls up a picture that we took in front of our house. In the snap I'm resting in his chest and he is smiling holding the camera. He hands her the phone and she swoons.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkxIuO05yl
"Wow Taylor, Jay this is a beautiful place. Especially for the baby" she smiles and a tear drops from her eyes.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLnUCqtyjE
"They're happy tears" she says looking up at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2wDVuSbUS
"It's important to add, we're keeping our place here too" Jay says reassuring her and I grasp onto his hand. He holds me tightly as the bread and bruschetta arrives.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpEONjdgys
"So there's nothing to worry about. We just felt that we liked the place so much." I say softening the deal.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkufDleabZ
"I suggested to Taylor that when the baby arrives it would be nice for you to come and stay?" He says softly to mum and she holds onto his other hand over the table. He laughs slightly, and I look up at him and see the man he was always supposed to be. The provider, the gentlemen and the daddy to our children.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94M54nGuDS
"That would be truly wonderful" she says sobbing slightly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6oQXdDSxR
"I would love that mum" I say to her and she smiles at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2xqT6mLOE
"We could take the baby to different places, Italian restaurants and the beach" I smirk and she laughs.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9guSGrGsW
"How are you going to get all of the stuff back" she asks smiling.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E8vzGJ9PB
"We bought another pram, cot and everything for the farmhouse" I tell her laughing. I pick up some bruschetta and begin eating. I serve some up for Jay too, it's a reflex by now. He thanks me and I stroke up his arm.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6EZ0KAJQj
"You're the first person we've shared this news with" I smile and she returns the expression.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31lHGevGeA
"You have a vineyard" she smirks looking at the pictures.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeiIVY6FZm
"It's truly beautiful" I say to her and she smiles down at me.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT96jMfEe6E
"I'm ecstatic for the both of you, and I'm even more excited to come and stay" she explains as the mains arrive.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXdzmOA0U1
I glance down at the black inky pasta on Jay's plate and look up at his expression. I chuckle slightly, seeing the shock on his face.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oCauwTplH
"Not what you were expecting" I chuckle and mum laughs.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsJK0Yo0X6
"It's pasta right?" He laughs and I stroke his face I can't help it, he's hilarious.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzJShRL0i2
"Yes darling" I laugh.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn4yX21G5t
"They use squid ink" Mum informs him.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hx8mz3u3j
"Makes it a rich black colour" I add in and he smiles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFRBAkZ9HD
"This is one of those cases of learning the language before you blindly order your food" he smirks forking up some pasta and trying it.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V7EYZLVAF
"However" he smiles.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDIGQKYsWq
"It tastes wonderful" he finishes and we both laugh.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF5TgObVV4
"Yours looks nice" he scoffs at me, smirking slightly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6BiGhwCNr
"Pappardelle, originated in Tuscany. Mines got beef and tomatoes with it" I say to him.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKdQbNQtPs
"The farmhouse is in Tuscany" I look up to mum and she nods smiling.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaegHOoyGbU
"This one" he says looking at me and then glancing at mum.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxNr5SkxHX
"Knows a lot about everything" he smirks and I kiss him lightly.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1wK4r7j4Q
"Always been the same with Taylor" mum laughs.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ySzauxgpS
"She remembers things" mum clarifies and I snicker.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MQCIg3M70
"Oh I remember almost everything" I laugh.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnNJ0tFsNi
"Plus I just love my food" I say and Jay stokes my hand on the table.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlvF05Y09r
I glance up at him, catching his eyes, and he whispers that he loves me. I glance into his eyes felling like the luckiest woman on earth. Whispering that I love him back, and facing back to my food.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YOYLlbxpv
Once we've finished our food, we invite mum to the baby shower/going away party. She holds me just a little bit tighter than normal before we leave and say our goodbyes.
ns 15.158.61.40da2
