2 am
It was days before Christmas.
She was supposed to have another five weeks to go. She was supposed to give birth in her own little house in Kingsport. Next to the decorated nursery, she had arranged.
Instead, she was here, at Ingleside. Four days after arriving at her childhood home. Dr. Halliwell gave her admittance for Rilla to travel to the Island for Christmas. She was after all going to be surrounded by doctors and nurses. What could really go wrong? She had travelled with Una and Timothy who were going to spend Christmas at the Manse.
It was in the middle of the night when Rilla had gotten up to go to the bathroom. At first, she thought she accidentally wet herself. Embarrassed she cleaned herself up. It wasn't until she felt the baby move and more liquid trickled down her legs. She realized what was happening.
Anne compared it to looking at a ghost when Rilla woke them up. Her white nightgown stuck to her thighs.
Both Anne and Gilbert jumped out of the bed.
"It's too early," Rilla lips trembled.
She had been complaining about her back hurting. How the pressure that made it impossible to sit, stand more than a few minutes. Gilbert cursed in his head that he should have seen it coming.
"Call Faith," he told his wife. "She'll be a big help and help make Rilla more comfortable," Gilbert explained. He often used Faith and her nursing abilities when he was called to deliver children.
"It will be all right," Gilbert told Rilla, trying to remain more of a doctor than a frightened parent at that moment. Leading her back to her room. Asking her questions and if she had any contractions, which she nodded her head at. She thought they were practice ones.
Lights in the house were slowly being turned on, Susan came up the stairs at all the talk and crying. She took one look before she headed to her kitchen and put the large pot of water on to boil.
"Ken," Rilla said out of nowhere. Knowing that it would make no difference, the train didn't leave any earlier. He had work to finish up before leaving for the holidays. He wasn't due back until the weekend which is why she had travelled with Una.
"I'll call him," Gilbert told her. Trying to keep her calm. He took a moment to shake his head, trying to push back the memories that were long buried. No use in thinking about those right now, no matter how much Rilla reminded him of Anne that fateful night. He needed a clear head.
"Jem and Faith are coming, they just need to drop the children off at the manse," Anne told him as she came up the stairs. Frowning at her pacing husband.
"I need to go call Ken," Gilbert told her.
Anne nodded. "I'll go help Rilla into clean clothing," she told him. "Gilbert—," she said quietly.
"I don't know Anne, I truly don't," Gilbert shook his head reading her mind. Both of them were brought back to the night.
3 am
It wasn't long before Ingleside was lit up. Jem and Faith were carrying their own bags of spare clothing and supplies. Faith went straight into nurse mode and accessed the situation.
"Placenta abruption?" Gilbert asked his daughter in law, outside the bedroom door. Faith was wearing a long white apron and sleeve coverings.
"She's not bleeding, though I did notice the baby isn't fully turned or in place." Faith told him. "She doesn't know when or recalls losing her plug, but she's already dilating so it had passed," Faith told him.
"Then we will try to encourage it to turn or we will do it," Gilbert said simply, though his face was still filled with worry. A breech birth would not make things easier.
"We can always take her to the hospital," Jem reminded them. "It might be the best situation for her and the child."
"It's too far of a drive, and they closed the bridge to fix it. The detour is out of the way. We would end up getting stuck and the last thing we would need is her giving birth in a car, in the middle of winter." Gilbert shook his head. "You will be doing most of the work Faith, we will step in if needed of course. As long as this goes in typical fashion, I will respect her wishes about staying out of it."
"Of course," Faith nodded her head. Already knowing what was expected of her. "Do you think we should call her doctor in Kingsport? Tell her what is happening, maybe she might know why?"
"I can try, though if she allowed Rilla to travel here one would think everything was all right," Gilbert told them. "These things happen. She preterm, far enough along that the only thing we need to worry about is breathing issues. We can regulate temperature with heat lamps and hot water bottles."
"Can you manage without me for a few hours?" Jem asked looking up.
"Of course, but what are you doing?" Gilbert asked his son.
"I'm going to call the veterans convalescent home and see if I can get a tank of oxygen from them," Jem told him.
"Thats still almost two hours away," Gilbert told his son.
"Then I will see if they can meet me halfway somewhere," Jem told his father. "We need something to help, and the vet's home is closer than the other hospital."
"Then go," Gilbert told him with a nod of his head.. Leaving Jem to say goodbye to his wife, it was going to be a long night.
7:30 am
The pain was something that Rilla had never experienced. It was excruciating as she felt an extra contraction come and go. Hair plastered around her face from sweat. She did rounds of walking up and down the long hallway of Ingleside. Drinking sips of weak milky tea with sugar, and when the sun finally rose. Susan bought up a bowl of milk oatmeal.
"Eat a little, it will help you," Anne told her daughter. "Give a bit more strength to get through this."
"I'm not hungry," Rilla shook her head.
"You won't be, but you should still try to have a few spoonfuls," Anne encouraged her. "You'll need to keep up your strength."
Rilla sighed she braced her hands on the wall and leaned her body forward. Letting her back stretch out and belly hang. She barely noticed the tears that ran down her face now, as she forced herself to breathe.
"I want Ken," the words stumbled out of her mouth.
"I know sweetheart, I know," Anne frowned rubbing her daughters back. They never told her that they've been calling every hour trying to find out where their son in law was. It was beginning to be unnerving. "He'll be here as soon as he can be."
"I can't do this mummy," she cried, she had begged for them to make it be over. How she should have never come to the island. Even if the doctor said despite her early hardships it shouldn't be much of an issue. After all, she was going to be staying in a house with a doctor?
A train ride shouldn't bother her. She spent it sitting down after all. Even the ferry she had spent it sitting down inside away from the cold.
"You can and will," Anne told her. "Concentrate on breathing, just as I taught you and it will help you." She turned back to Faith who was helping to try to set up the room. "I know it hurts, but you will get through this."
"They gave us these" Jem placed two cylinders of oxygen on his father's desk with a rubber mask. "They are newer, small ones. More portable, they came out recently from men trying to hike up Mount Everest. It should at least give us enough time to reach a hospital if needed." Jem told his father.
"That is a relief," Gilbert told him. "Thank you for going,"
"How is she doing?" Jem asked, knowing whatever he heard only told little of what was happening.
"According to Faith keeping it barely together? However she is progressing normally," Gilbert told his son.
"Is there a possibility of her dates being wrong?" Jem asked.
"I don't think so, and I just spoke to Dr. Halliwell who is pretty sure as well. She's grown a fair bit over the last few weeks, but she's still on track for being almost thirty-six weeks." Gilbert shook his head.
"What about Ford?" Jem asked.
"Still nothing," Gilbert sighed. "I will try the office as soon as I can, maybe they might know something or get a message to him. If not I'll alert the constabulary to check on him."
Jem nodded and sighed. "Coffee?"
"Please," Gilbert said with a yawn.
10 am
It was eerie as Ken walked up to Ingleside, how the place was lit up and how the men sat in the living room looking unsure.
"What is going on?" Ken asked as he heard it for the first time. "What going on?" He asked again he looked towards his father in law.
"We've been trying to call you all night!" Gilbert exclaimed but ultimately relieved to see his son in law.
"I caught the last train and ferry last night. I stayed the night in Charlotte town and caught the first train out here." Ken explained still confused until he heard it again, a rather loud, but sobbing groan. "What going on?" Instantly aware and afraid of what they were about to tell him.
"Rilla waters broke early this morning," Gilbert said. "Faith and Anne are with her," Gilbert tried to explain, but Ken heard nothing as he bounded up the stairs two at a time. Racing towards the sounds that echoed in the hallway. He didn't care that he should be there, and no one stopped him as he burst into the room.
"Ken!" Rilla cried grasping his hand as she leaned against numerous pillows. Her knees bents but hidden by her long nightgown. "How did you?" Her face scrunched up, sweat beaded on her forehead as she struggled against the contraction.
"I caught the last ferry last night and stayed over in Charlottetown." He explained. "I got out early and thought it would save me some time."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Rilla blabbered.
"It's not your fault," Ken tried to reassure her. "It has never been your fault."
"I fell!"
"And you were fine, that was over a month ago," Ken told her, looking up at Faith trying to her to reassure him.
"I fell with both Ceci and Wally, and Ceci and both I went overdue," She reminded her sister in law. "This little one is just impatient it seems, are you staying?" She looked at Ken, who looked down at his wife and nodded. "Until she kicks me out."
Faith nodded to him. "I will warn you, it's a messy process. Just stay near her, comfort her, help her walk if she wants to walk. If you faint, you're on your own," Faith told him, in a way which he wasn't sure if she was joking or not.
"I'll survive," Ken told Faith, diverting his attention back to his wife. "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. If I had known," Ken trailed off as she grasped his hand. He looked back toward his brother in laws wife and his mother in law. "Can we have a moment alone?"
"Of course," Faith said with the curt nod of her head and led Anne out by the arm who wasn't willing to leave her daughter.
"I'm sorry," Rilla said weakly repeating her early statement. Tears pouring down her face once more.
"Rills, darling I will never think this your fault, these last few months weren't easy for you. Anyone could see it." Ken said brushing a stray curl from her face with one hand. The other was digging for his handkerchief. "We need to stay brave, you need to be brave for this baby. Can you do that for her?" He asked wiping down her face gently.
Rilla nodded weakly. "I'm scared," her lip wavering.
"I know, and so I am, but we need to be brave," Ken admitted. "I'll be by your side every minute now that I'm here."
2 pm
"Rilla, listen to me, we can do this a few way? We can have you near the edge of the bed, or we can have you lie down on your side and one of us can hold your leg." Faith asked her.
"I don't care," Rilla said in between a short breath and split second. Her body already gearing up for the next contraction. The urge to push was so strong…in the end, she found herself across the bed with Ken holding her hand. Whispering in her ear, encouraging words every chance he could.
"Strip down to your skivvies if you're staying for this. It will be more comfortable and then get behind her. You can help support her back" Faith told Ken as he was helping Rilla back on to the bed that was laden with towels.
Ken only nodded not caring who was in the room as he carefully placed his trousers and shirt off to the side. Leaving him in his warm flannel union suit, that provided extra warmth in the winter. He did though make sure all his buttons were done up. He didn't pay much attention to anyone besides Rilla.
"I can see the head, he or she has some hair," Faith encouraged her. "Plush again for me," she instructed. "Have a moment of rest," Faith told her working quickly with her rubber nasal suction. Feeling around the neck when she stopped, she had seen cords wrapped around the neck before.
"Rilla dear, I need you to do me a favour, do not push. Ken go get Father Blythe," Faith asked him calmly but the directness in her voice made him jump up.
"What's happening?" Rilla struggled as her mother pushed the pillows against her back.
"Nothing just a small hiccup," Faith said carefully. Not wanting to upset Rilla with the truth. Not wanting to tell her that the cord was wrapped around the infant's neck, not once, but twice. "They must have been moving around a fair bit. I don't want you to push because their cord is wound around them," Faith told her truthfully. "What we will do is that your mother to help me by slipping her fingers under the cord. That way she can slip it off as soon as you push and your father on standby." Faith looked over at Gilbert who was standing in the doorway listening to the plan. Ken right back next to his wife, with a look of anxious excitement, with a touch of fear.
Anne did as instructed, and Faith nodded to Rilla, praying that nothing would get caught. The two women worked quickly as Rilla finally was allowed to react to the urge that was coursing through her body.
It was a strange sensation, as she let out a howl on her last push. A slippery wet feeling, followed by relief.
"Come on, little one," Faith cleared the baby's airways, rubbing its back. Trying to warm up the little body. Her stethoscope, warmed up by her breath as she placed it on the little body. Relieved to at least hear a heartbeat. "You can do it." Faith murmured as she cut the cord and tied it off.
"What wrong?" Rilla scrambled to sit up. She was tired, exhausted and hair was coming out of her braid. "What is wrong?"
She cried hands flying, her heart was racing in every fear she had ever imagined. She saw her baby being whisked away by her father to the corner of the room. A large lamp that gave off a warm radiating heat.
"She needs to calm down," Jem pushed his way into the room. Looking at Ken for some sort of help but he was too dazed by what was going on. "Listen to me Rilla, you need to calm down, deep breath's. Being hysterical won't do you any good, you don't want your blood pressure to spike. Dad is doing everything he can. None of this is your fault, but you need to calm down. The last thing we need is to have that little?" He looked towards his wife.
"A boy," Faith said out loud for the first time. Which made Ken look up."
"A boy," Ken said out loud.
"That little boy needs his mother as well. He's having some trouble breathing because he's early," Jem told her.
"It can't be a boy," Rilla said shaking her head
"You have a son, Rilla," Jem shook his head. "He has some dark hair as well."
"Are you sure?" Rilla asked again not wanting to believe it.
Faith laughed gently. "I am sure, it is hard to miss" with a shake of her golden-brown hair. While continuing with her tasks at hand, trying to keep busy as time passed. Placing a cloth over the afterbirth and covering Rilla with a blanket for modesty.
Finally what seemed like a lifetime. Ken moving to pace the room beside the bed, as Jem and Gilbert did everything they could to help the little boy. Finally, there was a cry, you could see the shadow of a jerky twitch of his limbs. Another few minutes, of testing and silence. Making sure he's breathing was regulated with the aid of oxygen through a small mask shift mask. He was angry and let his grandfather know it, as he laid the cool metal on the tiny chest, relieved to hear a steady rhythm.
After another test to see how well the little one would breathe on his own. Satisfied enough that the little man was wrapped up expertly by his grandfather. Presenting the little infant to his mother.
Oxygen nearby just in case.
"Just for a moment," Gilbert told her gently. "We need to make sure he stays warm and breathing without too much trouble." He explained as he watched diligently any sign of distress.
"What are you going to call him?" Anne asked quietly, looking at her husband trying to understand the situation. In flashes she saw him all those years ago, tired and pale. Not sure how to tell her. In other flashes, she saw him as the capable doctor that he was. So much had changed since Joy after all.
"Oliver Gilbert?" Rilla said looking towards Ken who was peering over her shoulder who nodded. "I suppose if it was a girl, she would have been named after you Faith."
"I am honoured at the thought of it." Faith told her as she adjusted Rilla's nightgown and the baby. Letting them both relish in the moment of skin to skin contact. "That will help keep him warm."
Faith leading the rest of the family away trying to let Rilla and Ken have their moment of bonding.
Rilla nodded and looked down at him, his little face still covered in heavens knows what.
"Hello Ollie," she said tentatively. "I thought you were going to be a little lady, but I suppose it all works out for you. I know all about little boys." Rilla talked quietly, a fresh batch of tears running down her face.
Something in the moment, maybe the baby turn it face a little towards the sound her voice.
"You know me already don't you?" Rilla asked him. "You know that I'm your mommy?"
"How could he not?" Ken said in her ear. "He's heard your voice all along."
"I think he knows you too," Rilla told her husband as another twitchy movement from the sound of Ken's voice.
"How much does he weigh?" Ken asked out loud, looking towards his father in law.
"Five pounds, and three ounces," Gilbert told him. "Eighteen and a half inches long. I have it written down."
"Why don't we have Daddy hold the little one, and you men continue to monitor him? While we women finish up here?" Faith decided to take charge of her patient once more and what else needed to be done.
"Of course, we'll be across the hall," Gilbert nodded. "You can have him back soon," Gilbert told Rilla who was holding him protectively. "We just want to ensure he's healthy as he can be."
Gilbert reached for the child, he's eyes still worried about his grandchild. Checking him over when Rilla finally let him go, pulling her nightgown back together. Watched Ken take his son for the first time from her father. Then the next moment the men were promptly kicked out of the room.
The rest of the day was a blur as Rilla was resting on a fresh bed, her small boy lying beside her in a bassinet. Being kept warm. Hot water bottles wrapped up in flannel place around the bassinet, and underneath. Faith had Rosemary drop off a bag a small gown that Walter Junior had long grown out of. Rilla stared at him, too tired and sore to do more after she tried her first try of feeding. Which was much more difficult than she had expected. In the end, she had fed him with an eyedropper, after her mother showed her how to express herself into a sterile cup.
Ken sat in a chair, in front of the bassinet, next to the bed.
"Is he breathing?" Rilla asked quietly.
"He is," Ken nodded, knowing that neither of them would get much sleep. The whole house wouldn't get any sleep, with the constant observation of the little boy.
"He'll be our little Christmas miracle," Rilla whispered. "If…" she trailed off.
"He will, he has you for his mother," Ken got up and sat down next to her. Kissing her forehead, "I am so proud of you."
"I don't think I can do this again," Rilla told him, staring back at her son.
"No one will make you do anything you don't want to do," Ken said quietly. "So why don't we just get through today and then one day at a time," Ken told her taking a hold of her hand and kissing it. Before he maneuvered and laid down behind her over top of the blankets. His chin resting on her shoulder as he looked down at her.
"He's ours," Rilla whispered. "He's ours?"
"He does look like you," Ken whispered into her hair.
"He has your hair," Rilla pointed out.
"But he has your nose," Ken rebutted, and they went back and forth until he felt Rilla finally drift off to sleep. He got up silently and picked up his son from the bassinet. Settling in his chair to let her sleep as long as possible before Oliver would need to be fed again.
"Well, Oliver I guess it's just us right now," Ken said quietly. "You frightened everyone, especially your mother. You must have been excited for Christmas? I don't think I can blame you there, Christmas is rather exciting. Though I don't think anyone will have time to buy you a present so maybe your plan wasn't as thought out as you hoped." Ken chuckled deep in his chest, before sobering. "I love your mother in more ways than I could ever describe but you little man. You render my vocabulary empty when I look at you."
Well, it has come and gone, and I had two options for this chapter and this was a compromise. Did I keep asking myself Could I be so cruel? I did
I do have plan A, the original outcome of this story written as well if anyone is interested.
Special thanks to calling the midwife( which is now off Canadian Netflix! NO!) for some small details and inspiration.
Google and my liberal use of oxygen therapy, which was used in premature babies in the 1920s. Mostly in hospitals, in similar ways of nasal catheters small masks. Incubators were slowly being introduced( which started in a world fair on Coney Island of all places!) But weren't mainstream until the late 1930s and early '40s. By the 50's they were in every hospital with a maternity ward.)
At the same time, small tanks of oxygen were made for hikers who were scaling Mount Everest during the early 1920s. It's hard to know what on hand Gilbert might have had, but I gave myself a compromise of what was available and the possibility of what Gilbert could get. So I might be making things up, so please don't come after me about historical accuracy I researched and did my best lol!
Dear Guest! I meant to reply last time and forgot! I adore Mad Men, its a favourite show me and my boyfriend. So yes I know the scene you are talking about. Just as well, you were pretty much on the dot on as well for a lot of other things as well.
Tina