The Midwife's Miracle Twins by Caroline Anderson

Author:Caroline Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-11-02T12:06:58+00:00

* * *

The day had been long, complicated and challenging with very few breaks, and by the end of it the only thing that was keeping her going was adrenaline.

She’d spent the last three hours with a woman who’d had to leave her husband with their three other children. She was coping alone and doing really well up to now, but the baby was overdue, it was five years since the last, and she’d had a long second stage. And now, just to add to the list, the baby was wedged in her pelvis, one shoulder jammed over her pubic bone, and when Georgie rang for help Patrick appeared.

Not the midwife she was hoping for, and there were none available because of course everyone had decided to deliver at once and they were all busy, but he looked edgy and unhappy and she’d heard about his meltdown. He was the last person she needed on this because if it didn’t work seamlessly the child would be left with damage to the brachial plexus or worse. And time was of the essence.

‘Is Jo around?’ she asked, and he shook his head.

‘She’s in Theatre. I think Mr Blake’s still here, he was a minute ago. Do you want me to check?’

She felt a rush of relief. ‘Absolutely. Tell him it’s a shoulder dystocia, and if he’s not about, then find someone else. Quick as you can.’

He nodded and ran, leaving her alone with a distressed woman and no way of delivering her without skilled assistance, and she had five minutes to resolve this before it all went pear-shaped.

‘OK, Vicky, let’s roll you onto all fours and see if that takes the pressure off,’ she suggested, and she’d just got her into position and checked the baby’s heartbeat when she heard the door open and close and the snap of gloves going on.

Please, please let it be Dan—

‘What have you tried?’ he said quietly from behind her, and she could have cried with relief.

‘Nothing yet, just turned her over. The anterior shoulder’s wedged over the pubic bone and my fingers aren’t long enough or strong enough to shift it, but the baby’s heartbeat is OK at the moment. You’ve got about a minute before she has another contraction,’ she added quietly, and he nodded and laid a gentle hand on the woman’s back.

‘Hi there, Vicky, I’m Daniel Blake, one of the consultants, and this is Dr Green. He’s going to be assisting me.’

He’d brought Patrick with him? Georgie turned, gave him a reassuring smile, and turned back to Vicky.

‘OK, Vicky,’ Dan said, his voice all confident reassurance. ‘Let’s see if we can get your baby into a better position. It may not be very comfortable, I’m afraid.’

‘I don’t care, do whatever it takes to get it out, please,’ she sobbed, and he squirted lubricant on his fingers while Georgie rubbed her back to soothe her and to try and ease the strain.

‘OK. I’m going to see if I can coax this shoulder round gently, Vicky, so you’ll feel a bit of pushing and shoving.

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