Another Happy Event
Liesl's due date was quickly approaching and she had a decision to make; where to have her baby. She asked some of her friends who had recently had a baby. They told her about a doctor who was among those who had also lived on the border. His name was Doctor Greenburg and that he would deliver babies in the couple's home or at the hospital.
Later she and John talked. Liesl explained their choices. John told her. "I think you should have the baby in the hospital."
"That's my choice too. And no one has to clean-up afterwards. The hospital personnel will do it."
At Liesl's next appointment she was told. "The baby is fully grown. You could go into labor any day now. Childbirth labor is the process of giving birth. It's usually a long process, especially when the woman is having her first baby. Your baby sac is a muscle. At its bottom is a structure named the cervix. Its very strong and keeps the baby in your uterus until it's time for the baby to be born.
"At that time the muscle of the uterus will tighten and then relax. The medical term is contraction. At first you hardly notice them but as time goes by you will. Try to stay relaxed by taking slow deep breaths. And I want you to call me when you begin to feel your contractions."
"I will I don't want to take a chance the baby may come too soon."
At home that evening Liesl told John all she had learned. And he commented. "I'll have doctor's telephone number by the telephone and be sure and wake me as soon as you feel anything."
"I will John."
It wasn't even a week later when Liesl woke John. "It's time to call Dr. Greenburg."
John didn't ask any questions. He went to the telephone to make the call. He quickly dialed the number. He heard. "Is that you John?"
"Yes it is."
"You can bring Liesl to the hospital. I'll meet you there."
Now John hurried to get dressed and Liesl grabbed her bathrobe. John held Liesl close to him as they walked to the car. After Liesl was seated, John quickly got behind the steering wheel and drove away rather fast. The hospital wasn't too far from their home.
John slowed the car only when he saw the doctor waiting outside.
A hospital worker was there with a wheelchair. No sooner had John stopped the car did the hospital worker bring the wheelchair close to the car and opened Liesl's door. He instructed Liesl. "Turn so you can put both feet on the ground, then take my hands to help you stand." Liesl did and then she heard feel for the arm of the chair and then sit."
Once Liesl had sat, the attendant pulled the the foot rests so Liesl's feet were off the ground. Now the attendant got behind the wheelchair and pushed it to the hospital's door.
Liesl was taken to a room in the part of the hospital specifically for women having a baby. John was taken to a large room to wait. Dr. Greenburg had also arrived. He went to see Liesl. The nurse gave him a report. "She's having good contractions; they're coming about three minites apart."
"Let me listen to its heart."
Dr. Greenburg used a wooden device with a hollow tube and two rounded ends to listen to the baby's heart. "Good, the baby is handling the birth process well."
"Liesl, your contractions are going to get stronger. Try to breath in and out slowly."
She did for a while but soon she felt pressure and the need to push. She was told. "Only push when your having a contraction."
It was only about thirty minutes later when Dr. Greenburg told her. "Open your mouth and take deep breaths." He took this time to put on gloves. Then Liesl heard. "One more push and your baby will be born."
As soon as the baby felt the coolness of the air, it let out a loud cry. The doctor completed the delivery and held it for Liesl to see. The baby boy continued to cry. The doctor detached him from its umbilical cord and handed him off to the nurse who quickly wrapped a warm blanket around him and he stopped crying.
John was pacing around the large room; he was anxious. Dr. Greenburg didn't have John wait much longer. He hurried to remove his delivery gown and change his shoes.
John noticed him immediately. "You're a father now. Liesl gave you a son. Come with me to the nursery window where you can see him. Liesl will be in a regular room soon. A nurse will come get you when she's ready to receive visitors."
John was in awe as he gazed at his son. Soon a nurse came to bring him to Liesl's room. The nurse told him. "Having a baby is hard work, your wife is going to need a nap soon."
She was right. After Liesl fell asleep, John took this time to call her parents. They were very pleased and told him they would come to the hospital later.