Doctor's Guide to Dating in the Jungle by Tina Beckett

Doctor's Guide to Dating in the Jungle by Tina Beckett

Author:Tina Beckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-10-15T00:00:00+00:00


Two hours of pushing and still no birth.

Stevie used the flats of her hands on the next contraction, hoping the steady downward pressure would coax the baby further into the birth canal. Speaking with low, calming murmurs, her own heart raced with fear as she watched Matt work.

With each push, the baby inched closer, only to be drawn back to its original position when the contraction was over. Exhaustion was taking hold. Soon there would be no choice but to take her aboard the boat and attempt an emergency Cesarean. But she knew Matt was afraid the anesthesia would be too much for the woman at this point—even if the chief allowed it.

He swore softly. ‘The baby’s still sunny side up. There’s no way he’ll fit like this—the pelvis is too narrow. I’m going to have to try turning its head again on the next contraction.’

Stevie cringed, knowing the agony Belini had experienced during the previous two attempts, but she forced herself to collect a deep breath and nod her understanding. Matt knew what he was doing. Still, the other two tries had ended with the baby stubbornly reverting to its original position, with the back of his head firmly pressing on his mother’s spine. A much harder way to deliver. And for someone of Belini’s petite size and debilitated condition…almost impossible.

‘Here we go. Help her push.’

Stevie bore down, noting the stiff concentration on Matt’s face, the muscle in his jaw contracting as he felt for the baby’s head and attempted to rotate it manually. Belini’s weak moans tore at her heart.

‘Come on, sweetie,’ she whispered to the baby. ‘Stay where Uncle Matt puts you.’

‘Tell her to keep pushing. If we can move him down the canal a little bit more, his body should turn in unison with the head.’ There was a pause. ‘Almost there. Keep going.’

‘Empurre.’ The soft command was as much for Stevie’s benefit as it was for Belini’s. She kept her hands firm on the girl’s abdomen, her fingers sensing each and every inch of ground they gained.

‘Wait! Wait! Don’t push!’ Matt’s harsh shout stopped everyone in their tracks. Even the medicine man stopped his incessant chanting.

‘What is it?’ She held back the fear that gnawed at her throat.

‘Head’s out.’ He looked up and although his hair was plastered to his head and sweat had worn tracks down his face, his shaky smile lit up the darkening room. ‘The hard part’s over. Now we just need to ease the shoulders out.’

Stevie’s heart stopped then started beating again. She leaned close to Belini’s ear. ‘Your baby’s about to be born.’

Within ten minutes an angry-sounding cry split the room, strong and sure, as if the baby—and not his mother—had won this particular round.

Belini’s exhausted brown eyes met her own. ‘He cries.’

A laugh came out unbidden. ‘Yes, he does.’

‘And a “he” it is. The baby’s a boy,’ said Matt, working to clear the baby’s nose and throat.



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