Page 43 of Muskoka Miracle (Muskoka Shores #7)

“Hey, Dan. Good to see you got her here in time. How is she?” Dr. Feldman popped in, checking the charts at the end of the bed.

“She’s just fallen asleep. She’s been pretty lethargic.”

“Hmm. We’ll have to keep monitoring that. I don’t know if she explained things, but her blood pressure is sky high, and I’m concerned that the baby will be in distress if we leave things for too long.”

His heart fisted. Lord! “If… if the baby is distressed, will you have a team to help?”

“Of course. I had to make a few calls, but they’re on standby.

” Dr. Feldman’s face softened. “But the fetal monitoring is showing things are normal. Remember, the most recent scans showed there was no longer any abnormality of the heart or brain cavities. You can rest assured, because your child is coming early, we’ll have a space ready in the NICU if necessary. ”

There was so much to absorb, so much they hadn’t planned, this situation felt like it was spinning out of control. But he did know one thing. “We really don’t want you to do surgery.”

“I understand. We’ll have to hope this induction works; if it doesn’t in the next twenty-four hours, a C-section is the only possible outcome.” She studied him for a moment. “You do realize what’s at stake here?”

Dan must have looked blank as the doctor continued.

“She needs to deliver. Her kidneys and liver will be compromised unless your baby comes out in the next day or so.”

Oh Lord, please help.

Dan nodded stiffly. It was time to make some phone calls. His wife and child needed urgent prayer.

* * *

Sarah woke, the dark shadows not quite hiding the room fittings.

Dan wasn’t here, but the steady beep of the blood pressure monitor was filling the room with assurance.

The rest had helped, the overpowering tiredness from before had diminished somewhat.

She vaguely remembered having some sort of cold gel inserted hours ago.

She wasn’t sure what effect it was supposed to have.

She didn’t feel any different right now.

Oh Lord… The worries from before loomed up again and she heard the beeps increase in frequency, so she tried to calm down, praying.

“Hey, Princess, you’re awake.”

Dan’s return was so welcome. He’d showered and changed, and brought a sack of things she hoped contained food. He gave her a kiss, before settling into the seat next to her. “How are you feeling? Any twinges?”

She shook her head. “The rest was good. I think it all got to me.”

“Well, you sure look better.” He retrieved a long slushy from the sack. “It’s mango.”

Oh. How thoughtful. She gratefully took a long draught, the cold seeping into her system.

Dan settled back, a smile on his face. His smile always had a way of smoothing the jagged parts of her heart. Maybe the doctor should tell Dan to smile at her ten times a day and that might help her blood pressure drop.

“I called your folks. They’re trying to reschedule their flights, and aim to be here by the end of the week.”

The tears welled up. “Thank you,” she managed to whisper.

“And Ange and John are on standby, in case you need anything. I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

He reached across, smoothing her hair. She gently caught his hand, holding it tight. “I’m so glad.”

Dan pulled out a couple of books. “Which of these do you want to read?”

They’d both been on her bedside table. “I don’t know. I’ll start one and see if I like it.”

“Okay.”

The next hour was passed in blissful quiet, the occasional slurps from the slushy the only sound. The book was okay…

Then she felt a slight pain across her middle. Wincing, she tried to sit up.

Dan looked up, his face a study of concern. She forced a smile. “I’m okay.”

Another fifteen minutes passed before she felt another twinge. “I think it’s starting to happen.”

The book was abandoned as the nurse popped in to make a quick examination. “Well, it’s good to see that the gel is working. And the fetal heart rate looks fine. But we’ve still got a long way to go yet. Try to rest as much as you can. You’ll need all the energy you can get later.”

Once she’d left, Dan looked at her, amused. “Encouraging lady, that one.”

Sarah tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace as her stomach tightened again. It felt like period pain. That was it, just think period pain. But she wasn’t able to hide the discomfort.

“Sar?”

She shook her head. “It just hurts a bit, that’s all.”

He bit his lip. “Maybe you should stand up and move around. That’s what they recommended in the prenatal class.”

“I would if this silly drip wasn’t attached to me.”

Dan rang the buzzer, and a nurse swiftly appeared, and he explained the situation to her. She checked the baby’s heartbeat, checked Sarah, then agreed, and removed the IV and monitoring strap. “You’re pretty lucky to be starting so soon. Some women take hours until they feel anything.”

Sarah wasn’t feeling so lucky right now. She gingerly moved off the bed, Dan helping her stand. She felt so unwieldy, her stomach protruding over her feet.

* * *

Dan felt helpless. Ever since the first contraction over an hour ago, he’d watched his wife anxiously, noting the strain as she held her body rigid each time the pain tightened.

She wasn’t saying much, and he was trying to help, but man, this wasn’t easy.

Sarah would close her eyes, stand still then exhale slowly through gritted teeth.

He’d seen her combat pain before, but that was nothing compared to this constant wracking of her body.

Her hands gripped his in such intensity he knew another one was filling her. Oh God, please help her.

He knew women did this all the time, but he’d never known anyone, let alone loved them, so watching his beloved undergo such torture was torturous. She gasped, then her shoulders relaxed again. He took a moment to massage her shoulders gently. “You’re doing great, honey.”

She glanced up at him, wryness curving her mouth. “This is your fault you know.”

“I’m really glad.”

“Sadist.”

He chuckled, before leaning close to her ear. “No, lover.”

The smile lightened her face before another contraction hit, and she grabbed hold of the bed railing this time, her knuckles going white under the pressure.

“Try to relax, Sar.”

She moaned, eyes shut tight, before a final gasp indicated the end of the contraction. “Relax? You have got to be kidding me. This hurts so much.”

“Good thing redheads have got such a high pain threshold.”

The glare she sent him made him smile inwardly. He checked his watch. “I think we’re at five minutes now.”

He left Sarah wearily propped against the bed—just as well she’d had her rest before—found a midwife then returned.

The midwife did another examination, checked the monitor, then nodded. “It’s all looking good. I think it’s time we move you up to the delivery room.”

“Anything to get this over with,” Sarah muttered.

Amen.

A few minutes later they were in a light, bright airy room with attached ensuite. The nurse briefly explained some things before leaving them to it.

Another contraction.

“Oh, that hurt .”

“You want to have a shower, like the midwife suggested?”

Eyes filled with pain caught his, and she nodded. He moved to the ensuite, turning on the shower, helping her strip off her loose clothes.

“Don’t want my hair wet.”

He found a shower cap, wrapped her long hair up in a ponytail, then neatly secured the cap over her head. “I love you, Princess.” He gave her a quick kiss then she stepped into the shower.

“Ohhh…”

Her groan rattled him. The hot water was too hot for him but seemed to work for her, soothing the muscles that kept cramping. He sat down on the toilet seat lid, wondering what to do now. He’d never liked being helpless, but what more could he do?

After ten minutes of the shower she looked at him. “Dan, I really need to go to the toilet.”

“You want me to get a nurse?”

He grabbed a towel and carefully helped her out, leading her to the toilet. She sat down heavily.

“Sar? You want me to get a nurse?”

She was breathing heavily now. “I don’t care.”

Uh oh. “I’ll be right back.”

He poked his head out the door, relieved to see their midwife walking back.

“How is she doing?”

“She’s on the toilet.”

The nurse looked at him wide-eyed before rushing in. “Sarah? Sarah, you need to get on the bed now.”

“I just need to finish…”

The nurse crouched down. “Sarah, that’s your baby trying to come out. We don’t want it born in the toilet, so come over to the bed.”

The nurse glanced up at him and Dan moved to help Sarah, holding her, encouraging her as she shakily moved over to the bed and climbed into a hospital gown. He stayed with her, smoothing her hair while the nurse checked on her dilation progress, then checked the baby’s heartbeat again.

“Well done, Sarah. It looks like you’ll be meeting your baby in the next hour.”

Dan could’ve cheered.

* * *

Sarah wanted to groan. Another hour of this?

Why had she ever been excited about having a baby?

This was ridiculous. The shower had helped a little, but the contractions had sped up, so she barely had time to breathe.

She was so tired she felt wobbly. And Dan wasn’t helping. He reached out to touch her hair.

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped. She was so tired of being poked and prodded. Besides, all this was his fault. If he hadn’t made her fall in love with him, they’d never be in this predicament.

Oh God…. She wanted to push, it was like she was constipated. How embarrassing to have total strangers see everything down there. She wished she’d shaved her legs.

She shut her eyes again. This pain was almost too much. She wanted to scream but didn’t want to scare Dan with the intensity of pain she was feeling.

“Sarah, you’re doing really well.” This midwife was nice. Thank God. “I’ve paged Dr. Feldman. She’ll be here any minute.”

“Good.” She wanted this baby out now. Yesterday.

The door opened and Dr. Feldman appeared. “Sarah, Dan, looks like things are almost there. Let’s have a check of you, and we’ll see if we need to call the neonatologist team in.”

Sarah grimaced. Sure, why not? Anyone else want to see? Dan had moved down to have a look too. Why not take pictures?

“Okay, Sarah, all those contractions have moved the baby down the birth canal, and he or she is just waiting to come out.”

“What about the head?”

“The head looks fine, the heartrate is perfect, so I’m not concerned. We’re going to need you to start pushing on the next contraction, but ease off when we tell you, to help your baby the best way. Okay?”

She nodded. Thank God they were at this stage. She couldn’t cope with much more.

“Dan, you go up and support your wife. We want gravity to help so get behind her, support her back.”

Sarah felt another contraction begin.

“Okay, Sarah, push.”

Gritting her teeth, Sarah couldn’t stop the low whimper as the contraction lasted ten seconds, twenty, thirty… She started gasping.

“Sarah, breathe, deep breaths. Come on, your baby is almost here.”

Glad for Dan’s strong hands holding her shoulders she pressed back as the next contraction hit. She tried to breathe over the pain, but it hurt, it hurt, it hurt!

“That’s it, Sarah, well done. You can relax.”

Relax? She wanted to faint, she felt light-headed.

Dan’s voice came from behind her. “You okay, Sar?”

“I feel awful. This is so hard.” The tears filled her eyes but there was no more time as the next contraction hit.

“Come on, Sarah, push.” She tried to push, everything inside her tried to push, and she heard the doctor say, “That’s it! The baby’s crowning. Let’s have another of those.”

Well, yeah sure. Why not? The next pain hit her, and she tensed back against Dan.

P-u-u-u-s-s-s-h-h-h.

“Well done, Sarah! The head’s out.”

How gross did that sound?

“Come on, another couple of pushes and you’ll have your baby.”

“I can’t do this…”

“You can, Sar. You’ve got this.”

“So tired .”

The midwife moved up to the bed, wiping her face with a damp cloth. “Sarah, you’re doing beautifully. You’re almost there. Don’t give up now.” The midwife swapped positions with Dan who moved down to watch.

Oh, to be a man right now. She was never doing this again.

Sarah breathed in, expelling the air as the next contraction gripped, and pushed for what seemed like forever.

“That’s the way, come on, come on…”

And with a final desperate push and a slippery thrust her body finally expelled the tiny human form, and Sarah collapsed against the pillows, listening as a tiny cry filled the room. Thank you, God!

* * *

Thank you, God! He was a father. Watching his wife’s body do what it had been designed to do was amazing. Sarah was amazing. And now he had a little…?

The midwife quickly cleaned the tiny pink form, wrapping it in a soft blanket, before handing it to Dr. Feldman, who took some time to do some checks, then finally handed the baby to Sarah.

“Congratulations. You have a perfectly healthy little daughter.”

“Perfectly healthy?”

Dr. Feldman nodded. “Thank You God.”

“Amen.” Dan kissed his wife, looking into those gorgeous eyes that had been filled with pain only moments before, and now were filled with rapture. “Oh, Sarah, you really are amazing. I love you so much.”

She smiled at him, and they were connected, a steady stream of love vibrating between them, before the cry of their new daughter filled the space between them and Sarah looked down at the pale red fuzzy head.

“I love you too, Dan.” She kissed the little babe. “And you, my sweet.”

The staff, after smiling congratulations, had left the room for a few minutes. For a few minutes they were cocooned in love, a sweet bubble of bliss and answered prayers. Wonder filled.

“How are you feeling?” How many times had he asked that question over the past year?

“So much better. I can’t believe it.”

“You were awesome. I don’t think I could’ve done that.”

She smiled at him. “I wish you could’ve.”

He laughed, stirring the baby. He touched her cheek. “She’s so little, like a little doll. A tiny princess.”

“What will we call her?”

They’d run through baby names before, but there really was only one possible name.

Sarah looked up at him, her clear green eyes dancing with delight. “Grace Elisabeth.”

Dan kissed her, then his new daughter on the top of her tiny head. “Welcome to the world, Grace Elisabeth Walton.”