Katya gave birth two hours ago. She and her little son Nikita had already been moved to a ward and left alone.
Katya looked at the sleeping bundle and had no idea what to do with him.
“Are you really my son?” she asked with a smile. Then she took out her phone and took what was already the hundredth photo. And, of course, she sent it to her husband Ilya.
“How tiny he is! I can’t even imagine how I’ll hold him! But I’m really looking forward to it!” he wrote excitedly.
“I’m still a bit scared myself. When he wakes up, what should I do with him?” Katya replied, with lots of emojis.
The delivery went quite smoothly. Of course, it was painful, unbearably painful, but Katya somehow had been preparing for the worst. Her kind girlfriends told her all sorts of horror stories, so Katya thought she’d practically be one foot in the grave.
But no, everything went fine. And already an hour after the birth, she was insanely hungry, and when they allowed her to get up, she even walked around the maternity hospital.
Probably, she was just lucky to recover so quickly. Or maybe Katya simply took everything more lightly.
She was the first to be brought to the ward. It had three beds, so someone else would be assigned. Although Katya gave birth in November — as it turned out, that’s the off-season. Even here, there is some seasonality, which is surprising.
Therefore, the maternity hospital was half empty. It was quite quiet, only cries coming from the delivery room. Thank God, Katya’s ordeal was already over.
Her little son woke up and whimpered. Katya very carefully took him in her arms, not quite sure if she was doing it right. It was easy to practice on dolls during her courses, but here was a real little human, and a very active one at that.
By evening, Katya had gotten a little used to things. A nurse showed her how to swaddle the baby and change his diaper. And the little one even ate, which was a very good sign.
In general, Katya believed that newborn babies always cry and demand something. But either she was lucky with her son — he turned out extremely calm and sleepy — or everyone else was lying.
And Katya got bored. Nikita was asleep, she had already discussed everything she could with her husband. As well as with her girlfriends and parents. You can’t be glued to the phone forever; she wanted some real human interaction. Katya even thought about walking around other wards to chat with the girls, but then her prayers were answered — another new mother was brought to her.
When the doctors left, Katya immediately started chatting.
“Hi, I’m Katya.”
“Hi, Rita.”
“Who did you have?”
“A daughter.”
“Great! I dreamed of a girl too, but now I understand it doesn’t matter. Healthy is what counts. What’s her name?”
“Not named yet.”
Katya saw that her roommate was reluctant to talk. She chastised herself: not everyone has it as easy. Maybe she feels bad. Maybe she’s coming to herself, wants to rest. And here she was with her chatter.
“You’re probably tired. Sorry. I’ve just been here since morning and got bored. I won’t bother you.”
Rita nodded, then added:
“I really am tired.”
Katya took out her phone, but Nikita woke up. She changed his diaper, took a few more photos (she just couldn’t stop!), then fed him.
After staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, the boy fell asleep again. Katya even wanted to shake him awake: how long can one sleep?! But she decided it was a silly idea.
And just as Nikita fell asleep, Rita’s daughter woke up.
She cried like a kitten. Nikita cried in a manly way, but Rita’s girl just meowed.
Rita looked at her but didn’t rush to pick her up.
“Do you want help?” Katya asked. “I’m not an expert yet, but I’ve learned a bit.”
Rita sighed, dangled her legs off the bed, then nodded.
“The nurse hasn’t come yet… Can you change her diaper? I’m still afraid.”
“Of course.”
Like a little goat, Katya jumped up to Rita’s daughter. She laid her on the changing table and quickly did everything, proud of herself. A natural talent for motherhood, indeed!
“That’s it! Want to try feeding her?”
“I’ll ask the nurses to feed her formula.”
Katya frowned. She was categorically against supplementing in the maternity hospital. It’s normal that there is no milk on the first day yet. But she didn’t want to impose her opinion. Still, she asked:
“You don’t plan to breastfeed later?”
“I don’t know.”
It all seemed strange.
“Maybe she has depression? How is she? Oh, postpartum! Then maybe she needs a specialist? Although, I doubt such specialists are available in state maternity hospitals.”
All these thoughts ran through Katya’s mind, and since she was very emotional, Rita probably caught their meaning.
“I understand I don’t look like a happy mother. But I really don’t feel any happiness,” she said quietly.
“Can I?” Katya gestured to the girl in the bassinet.
“Yes, please.”
She took her in her arms and started rocking her. Soon the girl stopped crying and, it seemed, fell asleep again. So all babies really are sleepy in the first days.
“That’s not my business,” Katya said, returning to her bed, “but if you want, you can share. You can call me wise with a big stretch, but I’m a good listener. And I don’t judge anyone.”
Rita looked at her daughter and seemed like she wanted to say something, but then the nurses came in.
They showed Rita how to care for the baby. She only nodded, but it was clear she didn’t want to do any of it. And when they left, Rita returned to her bed.
“Was this an unplanned child?” Katya asked, nodding toward the girl in the bassinet.
“No, we really wanted this child. At least, that’s what I thought.”
“Was the delivery difficult?”
Rita shrugged.
“Like everyone’s…”
“Then I don’t understand…”
Katya looked at her roommate, waiting for her to explain. She really didn’t understand the reasons for such behavior. And this was clearly not just tiredness.
Yes, not all mothers can say that they understood the instant they saw their baby that they loved them madly. Katya herself still didn’t quite know what she felt.
But still, there is interest, curiosity. This is your child! And it’s so strange! A few hours ago, he wasn’t even there.
And there is responsibility, which arises immediately, led by maternal instinct. So what makes Rita ignore her own daughter?
“My husband left me,” Rita whispered. “A week before the birth. He said he realized he wasn’t ready to be a father and husband.”
Rita smiled sadly, but Katya saw she was barely holding back tears.
“What a scoundrel!” Katya couldn’t hold back. Yes, controlling emotions was not her forte.
“Yes. A scoundrel. But now I don’t know how to live on. I’m afraid I won’t be able to give my daughter a decent life, upbringing, love… He left a week ago, sucking all my strength out. Left me alone to deal with it all. And I’m so lost…”
Katya couldn’t stand it, got up and went to Rita. Then she hugged her.
“Listen, he’s a scoundrel. We already decided that. But you don’t even realize that he gave you a gift. Your daughter will not grow up with a scoundrel, do you understand?”
“But what if I can’t cope?” Rita asked, looking at Katya with tearful eyes. “I’m even afraid to hold her!”
“Pfff! Everyone’s afraid! And those who say they’re not afraid are lying! I’m sure of that. Listen, do you have family, friends?”
“Yes, my mother. A sister too. Friends. Even a mother-in-law, and we have very good relations.”
“Then why are you worried? You are surrounded by people who will help you, I’m sure. And if you need any more help, call me. I honestly don’t yet know what I’ll do with that bundle in the bassinet, but I’m sure together we’ll figure it out.”
“Thank you,” Rita smiled.
Her daughter started crying again. First, she whimpered, then began meowing.
“Demanding,” Katya smiled. “Will you take her?”
Rita nodded.
“Will you help?”
“Of course!”
They were discharged on the same day. During the three days the girls were together in the ward (no one else was assigned to them), they became very close. Rita pulled herself together a bit, started smiling. She began taking care of her daughter, started feeding her. She talked about the future, how they arranged the room for the girl.
Of course, she hadn’t fully recovered yet, but had already begun to accept the situation and plan their life together. Which made Katya very happy.
Before discharge, Rita came up to her new friend.
“Thank you. If I had a different roommate, I don’t know how I would have coped.”
“Come on,” Katya waved it off. “You’d manage! But it’s nice to hear. Who’s meeting you?”
“My mom, mother-in-law, friends… That one didn’t even come for the discharge.”
“And thank God! He would have worn me out!”
“And you?” Rita smiled.
“My husband, parents, friends. Honestly, I don’t even know exactly who. I’m happy to see everyone. And I want to introduce everyone to Nikita Ilyich.”
Rita looked at Katya’s son and smiled at him. Even if he didn’t understand, Rita wanted to give him a little warmth for his wonderful mom.
“I’ve decided on a name for my daughter,” Rita said. She had already been called for discharge, the baby was taken away, and she was standing at the door with her things.
“Oh? What is it?”
“Ekaterina. A wonderful name…”
“Rit…”
“I really want that. Stay in touch.”
“We definitely will.”
Rita left, and Katya stopped packing and sat on the bed. Tears were in her eyes. But these were tears of joy. She didn’t think she did anything truly important for Rita. She just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
But she really wanted to believe that everything would be fine for her. And Katya wasn’t lying: she would really help if her help was needed. But something told her Rita would manage on her own.
“Well, Nikitos, it’s our turn too,” she smiled. “Dad’s been waiting for you. How great that he’s such a wonderful dad.”
