I nodded.
“Well, don't stand here gawking at me,” she chided. She turned to the farmer. “Mr. James, you're all squared away. Tell your wife I said hello and I'll see her at the next bridge game.”
She then picked up the phone and dialed from memory. “This is Riversville Clinic. We need a air evac.”
I could hear a voice on the other line. She nodded and then put her hand over the receiver.
“They're fighting the storm. It's going to be at least thirty minutes.”
I chewed on my lip. That wasn't going to be fast enough. “Have them come anyway, I guess. We'll figure it out.”
She gave me a smart nod. “Well, don't just stand there gawking at me. I'll get you the kit as soon as they've given me confirmation.”
I stood for a second, still trying to keep up with what exactly was happening. I gave her a nod and hurried back to Emily.
Dr. Matthews was coaching Emily through a difficult contraction. She moaned softly, fingers digging into the thin padding of the exam table.
Some women screamed. Some women cried. Some cursed. Some women went quiet. Everyone handled the pain of childbirth differently. I personally already knew I wanted an epidural and was probably going to be a screamer. Emily appeared to be the kind that went quiet.
“You're doing great.” Dr. Matthews' voice was low and soothing. He emanated a calm and gentle aura. It wasn't his usual joking or his high school bad-boy vibe. It was the mark of someone that cared and was there to help. He was a true healer.
I washed my hands and was drying just as Donna knocked on the door. I answered and Donna handed me the pouches of medical supplies, several towels, and two surgical gowns and eye-shields.
“I'll bring back Mr. Markins as soon as he arrives,” she told me. “I'll prep the rest, but that should get you started. Still thirty minutes ETA on the chopper.”
Her calm confidence soothed my nerves. “Thanks, Donna.”
“You'll get used to calling for the chopper,” she assured me, making sure I had everything. “We call them more than you'd expect. Oh, I have the ambulance on stand-by as well.”
It was a good thing to have an experienced secretary. It felt better to know that there was yet another person in the office who could help if things didn't quite go as planned.
I tried not to think of all the things that could go wrong. This baby was too early. What if the lungs didn't work? Why was the baby coming so early? There were so many terrifying things that could go wrong. I was glad there was a helicopter on the way. If things went south, we would need the speed of a helicopter.
I set the supplies down and started prepping things as Dr. Matthews kept Emily on task. The birth was coming on quickly. We both gowned up in the blue surgical gear, donning masks, gloves, and eye goggles. Births were known to get messy.
“Okay,” he said after a particularly long contraction. “You're ready to push.”
“Not without Greg,” she gasped, her body preparing for birth. Sweat dotted her brow and her blonde hair stuck to her skin. “He promised he'd be here.”
“I'm here,” Greg Markins announced, rushing into the exam room. He had on his work gear and pieces of hay in his hair. “I'm here, baby.”
Relief filled her face before another contraction hit. Greg gave her his hand and then immediately winced and regretted the decision as she squeezed hard.
“Perfect timing, Greg,” Dr. Mathew told him, centering himself between Emily's legs.
I hurried around the room, making sure things were ready for the baby. In the hospital, there were two nurses for mom, two nurses for the baby, a pediatrician, and an OB. Today, it was me and Dr. Matthews with back-up from Donna.
It was definitely makeshift, but it felt like we were prepared. I'd done this hundreds of times, but this one felt special. There was an new urgency and a lack of control that made this one different than all the hospital births I'd assisted with.
“And push.” Dr. Matthews voice was strong, yet compassionate. Emily grunted and squeezed her eyes shut, her knuckles going white with effort as she tried to bring her son into the world. “Good. Breathe. And push again.”
I held a bulb syringe and a blanket, ready to do my part once the baby arrived. Dr. Matthews kept gently coaching, telling her to push and reminding her to breathe. It was a steady process, yet I kept holding my breath with every push.
I prayed that this went well. I'd seen emergency births at the hospital that I wouldn't want to recreate here. I prayed for an easy birth, one that was safe for both the mother and child. Having a baby was a dangerous thing to do. Just because most mothers survived in this century didn't mean it was safe.
“Hannah, we're ready,” Dr. Matthews said quietly. He raised his voice. “Push, Emily. Push.”
Emily cried out for the first time all afternoon. Her poor husband looked pale as a sheet as she gripped his hand. Emily strained and used all her energy to bring life into the world.