Charming Hannah (Big Sky 1)

“You look happy. I like it.”

“Thanks.” I smile and hurry away, wondering what’s up with the patient. She might just be nervous and need another pep talk. That happens all the time, and is perfectly normal.

I stow my half eaten lunch in my office, wipe my mouth off, grab my stethoscope and hurry into the patient’s room.

“What’s happening in here?”

“Something’s wrong,” Jennifer, my patient says. Her husband is holding her hand and looks at me with desperation in his eyes.

I immediately look at the monitors, and everything looks normal.

“There are no warning signs here,” I reply, but I lay my hand on her belly, and she writhes in pain.

“It feels like my whole body is being squeezed by a giant hand.”

“Well, you’re having a baby. You’re having two babies, and it’s going to hurt. Did you go to birthing classes?”

“We did,” Trent says with a nod.

“Great. Remember your breathing.”

“Right.” Jennifer nods. “Breathing.” She begins to breathe quickly, pursing her lips and staring at Trent in concentration. The fetal monitor begins to move up, indicating another one, and she squeezes his hand even harder, making him wince.

“See?” I get her attention, pointing to the monitor. “You can see here when a contraction is coming, when it peaks, and when it’s coming back down. If it helps, watch this and breathe with it. I’m going to check you real quick.”

I turn away and wash my hands, then reach for the gloves. Jennifer is still breathing, and I expect to find that she might be already dilated to about an eight, if she’s in this much pain already.

I take a deep breath, telling my brain to shut off. I’ve delivered hundreds of babies, and I wouldn’t do this for all of the money in the world. No way. I’m not going to turn my body inside out like this.

Nope.

But I put a smile on my face, and urge her to spread her legs so I can reach in to see how ready her body is to give birth to these babies.

Two centimeters.

That’s it?

I pull away and throw the gloves away, then wash my hands again.

“Well?” she asks. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“Not at all,” I reassure her. “Jennifer, you’re dilated at two centimeters.”

“Only two?” Trent asks, reading my mind.

“I’m afraid so. I know you’re uncomfortable, and if you want to elect for a cesarean section, we can still do that.”

“No, I want to have them naturally,” she insists.

“Are you sure you don’t even want some medication?” I ask. “There are two babies here, Jennifer.”

“No meds.” She shakes her head and I sigh. She’s at a two, which tells me she has many hours ahead of her to labor, and she doesn’t want the drugs.

Take the drugs!

Always take the drugs. I know, many people would frown at that philosophy, but I’ve seen a lot of natural births. I’m never birthing anything, but if I did, I’d take all of the drugs.

“Okay, that’s your choice,” I reply, calm as can be. “I recommend getting up and walking around a bit. Up and down the hallway. That sometimes helps. After you’ve done that for a while, we’ll put you in the bathtub. A nice bath will sometimes help your muscles relax.”

“Let’s do that now,” she says, but I shake my head.

“There’s no speedy way to do this,” I reply. “Babies come when they’re ready. I think we’re going to be here most of the night, but you might surprise me. Let’s get you up walking, and we’ll go from there.”

She nods and gestures for her husband to pass her the pink terrycloth bathrobe over the reclining chair.

She also brought bunny slippers.

“I like your hospital style,” I say with a smile.

“I figured I should be comfortable. Well, my feet anyway.”

“Absolutely. Oh, and have Trent massage your feet, too. That will help you relax.”

“What helps me relax?” Trent asks.

“You’re not pushing two babies out today, my friend. It’s all about helping Jennifer relax.”

He sighs, but smiles at his wife. “We’ve got this.”

Jennifer doubles over in pain and starts to breathe, leaning on Trent’s arms.

Yeah, no. No babies for me.

Chapter Seven

~Hannah~

“THANK YOU,” JENNIFER SAYS twenty-three hours later through tear-filled eyes. “Thank you for staying with me all night.”

“I wasn’t going anywhere,” I assure her and smile down at one of the babies in her arms. “I’m sorry we had to deliver them by cesarean after all.”

She shrugs and smiles at her daughter. “They’re here, and they’re safe, and that’s all that really matters.”

“My colleague is here now, and I’m going to do a few things to finish up and head home. I want you to rest today. I know your family will be excited to be here, but I want you to limit visitors today. I’ll give instructions to your nurse. Let her be the bad guy, Jenn. All of you need rest, and I mean it.”