Page 150 of Sin With Me

"Feel around and see if you touch anythin'," Raven suggests. "It said in one of the baby books I read, if the head doesn't descend, the cord could be wrapped around the neck. If that's the case, you should be able to put your fingers underneath and undo it."

My eyes widen, thinking how the hell I'm going to do that.

"You want me to shove my hand that far up?"

"Just to feel for the cord. If you don't, then you shouldn't have to do anythin' else."

"I wish we had a heart monitor," I say, bracing myself to shove half my arm up her cooch.

"Oh shit, another contraction."

She tries pushing again, but there's no movement, and once it's over, I slide my hand up.

"Oh God, this is...there's a reason I'm not a nurse."

"What do you feel?"

"You don't wanna know..." I focus on feeling for the cord. "Okay, I think I found it. Feels like it's wrapped around the neck once."

"Slip two fingers underneath and then carefully lift it over the head."

"I hope I'm doin' this right," I murmur, gently doing what she said. Raven tries not to scream, but I know this can't be comfortable. "Okay, I think I did it."

"Thank God. That hurt like a bitch."

Sliding my hand out, I ask Wesley to get me some fresh gloves.

"The next contraction, you need to push as hard as you can," I tell her.

Wesley returns, and I quickly change out gloves.

"Okay, get ready."

Wesley gets back into position, and I help Raven keep her other leg up with one hand. The head glides out and then the shoulders.

"Oh my God, keep pushin'!" I use both hands to hold it while the rest of the body comes out.

Raven pants and then finally breathes a sigh of relief.

"Towel," I call out, and when Wesley hands it to me, I wrap it around the baby.

"Why isn't it cryin'?" Wesley asks.

"I dunno. Gimme a second."

I wipe the face and eyes, then move down to the mouth and cheeks.

"What is it?" Raven asks. "Boy or girl?"

Oh shit, I didn't even look.

"Aw...it's a girl!" I announce.

"She's still not cryin'," Wesley says, staring down at me.

"C'mon, sweetie..." I pat her butt.

"Check her airway," Raven says.