#it feels like my peasant/serf families have NO kids while my nobles are overrunning the place with kids

[thestressedsimmer]

August 6th, 1315: The Ezzo Farm

As her pregnancy progressed, Vanna did her very best to get a hold of herself and upkeep the house despite her dizzy spells. Adamuccio, meanwhile, managed to finally get in some archery practice.

He'd enjoyed it when he was a young boy but with his large farm, he'd not been able to practice very much.

It was while Vanna was napping, resting after cleaning her house, that she felt the first stabs of labor pains.

She was a rather heavy sleeper, so for pain to wake her? It had to be an extremely harsh pain.

The pain was followed by a rush of water. It terrified her to her core but it also hurt. She had known that labor was harsh and involved a lot of screaming, but she didn't realize that this was why those women were screaming.

Why did they continue to have babies? Is it some kind of cruel joke from the Watcher?

A part of her was grateful that there weren't many chores to be done around the farm right now because it meant her husband could be present for her labor.

He was a source of strength. Her rational brain would want to kick herself for saying such a thing since his work puts food on their table and lack of it put them in serious danger, but she didn't know how she would do this without him.

That thought only became stronger (while she could still think) as she was ushered to bed. Finally, it would be time to meet their baby. And find out if they were having a boy or a girl.

While it was unseemly for a man to be with a woman during birth, they weren't fancy people. They were the poorest of the poor and couldn't afford a midwife, even with their community offering support.

As her labor progressed, her husband never once left her side. Vanna had never felt such pain in her life, she felt as if she was dying.

But Adamuccio kept her grounded. Kept reminding her that if she doesn't do this, her child would never be born and she would never get to meet him or her.

That was enough to help her find strength.

She screamed, burying her face in her husband's shoulder as she pushed... and pushed... and pushed.....

Finally, she heard a cry. She was flooded with relief as she reached towards her husband - who handed her a perfect little son.

"Sul sul, nooboo." She whispered to him; marveling at the fact that he seemed to stop crying once he was in her arms.