There's a reason why I posted 2 chapters on one day... This chapter had to be published on the 25th of December. You'll soon discover why..
Chapter 3 - to them a child is born
The next morning, Martin woke up later than usual. He had had the best sleep since weeks. It wasn't completely light yet, but it would certainly become a very nice, cold day. He looked forward to the walk along the coastal path, but merely because he would be in such pleasant company.
He prepared for the day and decided not to put on the best of his suits, because of the muddy grounds they would certainly pass. He dug up his walking shoes from the attic and hoped that they still would fit. For the first time in his life he regretted not to have a pair of jeans or casual trousers, but it couldn't be helped.
To his surprise, Louisa arrived punctually at 10:00, her cheeks already rosy from the short distance between her cottage and the surgery. She left a bag behind, but she took a small backpack with her on the trip. "I took some sandwiches and water for us", she explained. "My favourite GP always tells me to stay hydrated", she added, with a wink.
They climbed the steep hill and on top of it, they were rewarded with the lovely view on the village. No matter how often they had been here, this time it was special and it would always stay in their memory. They stood next to each other and admired the sunlight on the sea. Louisa took Martin's hand. Startled by the unexpected touch, he frowned for a second, but when he saw Louisa's smile, he relaxed. Hand in hand they continued the first part of their walk along the coast until the place where the path narrowed and forced them to walk one after another. For a while, they quietly walked along the path in the direction of Port Quin.
Suddenly Martin's cell phone rang. Reluctantly, Martin took the phone from his pocket. "Ellingham!", he answered in his usual brisk way. On the other side of the line someone was clearly in panic and hardly able to express his needs. After a few moments, Martin understood that the young man's wife was in labour.
"Calm down and tell me how far apart the contractions are", he said.
"I don't know Doc, maybe five or ten minutes, but she seems to be in such pain, can you come please, Doc, please?"
"Hmm. It will take some time, but I'll come as soon as I can", he said and hung up.
"Louisa, I'm sorry, I have to hurry home, Maria Dickens is in labour. A rather difficult pregnancy and it's a bit early as well. Better to go there right away. I'm so sorry, I'd rather continue this walk with you..".
"Maria Dickens.. but that's on the moor, Martin. In a tiny old cottage and not easy to find at all. I will come with you and show you the way".
"I don't want to spoil your Christmas, Louisa", Martin said and he briefly touched her cheek with the back of his fore fingers.
"You don't, what can be more exciting than assisting to a birth on Christmas day, hmm?"
They hurried to the surgery, where Martin checked the content of his medical bag.
"Do you think they have enough clean towels?", Louisa asked, "They are really poor, you know".
"Adequate thinking", Martin complimented her. "Can you fetch some, please? You'll find them upstairs in the cupboard next to the bathroom".
With her arms full of soft clean towels, Louisa came down the stairs, where Martin already kept the door open to go.
As it was Christmas day, nobody was on the road, so the trip was uneventful. It was a really sunny day, but on the moor, thin banks of fog regularly hit the windscreen and took away the sight for a couple of seconds.
"Best to slow down a bit, Martin", Louisa said. "You need to turn right soon and with this fog, you may easily drive past it. Oh stop, here it is, turn right please, Martin".
It took them several turns left and right before they reached the tiny cottage, hidden between some trees. Martin sincerely hoped that the birth would be quick, because he wouldn't like to spend the Christmas night in the car, lost in the fog, on the moor. This time, he thought that Louisa deserved to have a proper Christmas celebration and he hoped luck was on his side to make that happen for her.
Martin looked at the minuscule very old house and feared for what he would find inside. He expected it to be dirty and maybe full of living creatures living together with the young couple. He sighed. He parked the car, grabbed his medical bag and hurried to the door, where he was welcomed by the stressed father to be. Louisa followed a bit more quietly with the towels in her arms.
Average Cornish cottages aren't made for six feet three tall GPs, but this wasn't an average one, since the supporting beams and door posts were even lower than anywhere else. He usually ducked just enough to avoid them, but here the first thing that happened was a painful bump against the doorpost. Louisa nearly dropped the towels and screamed "Martin!", but he just growled and entered the cottage.
He suddenly stopped and looked around, totally flabbergasted. He had expected to enter a dark unhygienic with an overdose of seasonal figurines and a Christmas tree illuminated by too many blinking LED-lights in all colours. Instead, the cottage was furnished with danish styled wooden furniture with tasteful pillows in neutral colours on them.
Louisa stood right next to him and said "How beautiful! Look at that Nativity scene, Martin?" She pointed to a wooden composition displayed on the top of a low buffet in the corner.
Martin nodded but immediately followed the young man to the bedroom, which also appeared to be decorated in the same Scandinavian style. Heavily pregnant Maria Dickens, was pacing around in the bedroom obviously in a lot of pain. Louisa put the towels on a chair and went comfort her. She looked beautiful, all she had was a big belly, but otherwise she was as slender as ever before.
"Hello Maria, how are you? Do you remember me, you were in my very first sixth grade when I started working in Portwenn?"
"You're Ms Glasson, yes I remember you! So nice to have you here, Ms. Glasson, I was a bit scared I'd have to do this with these two", Maria answered, swaying her arms in the direction of Martin and her husband Josh.
"You can call me Louisa now, Maria, I think we'll spend some time together the coming hours and I'm sure that Doctor Ellingham is the best person in the area to do this with you."
"Well, eh.. yes … Mrs.. ehmm Dicksy, where can I wash my hands? I'd like to run some tests to see how far your dilation has progressed, hmm? Louisa, I think it's wise if you also wash your hands, please. If you want to assist to the birth, that is."
Martin was pleased with what he saw in the bathroom, although very simple, it was meticulously clean, just like at his own home.
"Good job, Maria and Joseph", he assured them when he returned into the bedroom, "Finally a couple that has listened to my advice about hygiene and tidiness! Let me have a look at you now, please climb on the bed." He took of his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
At the moment he examined her, a new contraction announced itself, which helped Martin to assess the actual situation even better.
"Nearly there, we arrived exactly at the right moment. Another twenty minutes or so and then you'll be fully dilated and ready to give birth. Maria, I'd like you to listen to me very carefully, just like you did with my previous advices. Your contractions will become much stronger very soon. I know that you will have the urge to push very hard, but that won't be good, do you understand?"
Both Maria and Josh nodded and Louisa was proud of Martin, he really seemed to try his best to explain everything in a way the young people would understand. He still was direct, but not rude.
"Your baby is probably rather small, because he or she is a bit early. So the best would be to let gravity help you."
Maria looked quizzically, unsure to understand what the Doc meant and then she was absorbed by the pain shoots of another contraction, which she puffed away in a very professional way, assisted by Josh. Louisa asked in her place "Can you be more explicit, Martin?
"Yes, ehmm.., the best position for her would be to give birth in an upward position, or leaning against the bed, more or less kneeling. That would mean that his or her own weight will help the baby through the birth canal. The most difficult part will be for you, not to push too hard. We will give you the support you'll need, of course."
"What if the baby falls upon the floor?", Maria replied, with tears in her eyes.
"That won't happen", the Doc reassured her.
"Joseph", he added, "please fetch the biggest container or bucket with hot water you can get and another smaller one that can stay empty and a bowl, maybe a salad bowl or so."
The way he misspelled the boy's name amused Louisa. He obviously didn't realize himself how funny he was. She laughed inwardly, not to spoil the moment. When she looked at the couple, she saw that they also interpreted it as very funny, but the Doc was totally oblivious of this and concentrated at the work at hand.
"I've read about the water, Doc", Josh answered, "and I guess the bowl would be necessary for checking the afterbirth, but why do you need the empty bucket?"
Martin growled and only muttered "I hope I don't.."
About 15 minutes passed and Martin noticed that Maria had more and more difficulties with puffing away the contractions, so Martin suspected that the dilation was now complete and he decided to do another check.
"The cervix is fully opened now, Maria, at the next contraction you don't need to puff it away anymore. Push, but not too hard, remember?"
Supported by Louisa and Josh, in a half standing position Maria did what her was told. Martin positioned himself in front of her seated on a low wooden stool he had found in a corner of the bedroom and because the baby was tiny, it took only about an hour before the head was born. The remaining amniotic fluid now released, splashed on the floor and on the Doc's clothes. He ignored it and said
"Well done, the most difficult part is over" He looked up and saw to his satisfaction that also the father to be was still going strong and so was Louisa. With the next contraction, Martin was able to expel the baby completely and with a swift movement, he prevented the baby from falling by holding it firmly with both his big hands. The infant immediately started to cry and all four of them were relieved about that.
"It's a boy", he stated, "tiny but healthy, I think." Louisa and Josh helped Maria on the bed and Martin laid the baby on the new mother's stomach, covering it with one of the soft towels they had brought with them. For the next few minutes, Maria and Josh only had eyes for the little wonder that just arrived in their lives.
"That was brilliant Martin", Louisa said soflty. "Are you sure the baby is OK? He seems so tiny and fragile"
"I'll run some tests, but yes, I think he is healthy, although a bit premature. Most babies are tiny and fragile."
He hesitated for a moment but then added "Now comes the most difficult part for me…stage three"
"The birth of the placenta", Louisa concluded. "I understand Martin. Let me know if I can be of any help". With a friendly gesture, she stroke his arm and smiled. He pulled at his ear and looked away, not knowing how to react properly.
Martin drew the attention of the young mother, since the placenta was about to be born and he'd have to clamp the umbilical cord now. Once he had placed the clamps, he presented the special scissors to Josh. "Just cut between the clamps". Josh felt proud that the Doc trusted him to do it and ceremonially cut the cord. Their new born son, still recovering from the stressful event his birth had been, was totally unaware of it. With the parents' permission, Louisa took some pictures with her cell phone, which she would send to them later.
Then, he couldn't postpone it any longer and he had to inspect the placenta for completeness. Much to his own relief, the placenta was still completely intact. He started to feel nauseous, which Louisa noticed immediately. She took the bowl with the placenta from him and brought it to the kitchen.
"Let's get some fresh air, Martin, these two don't need us for the moment." Louisa pulled on his arm. He stood up and followed her outside, where the sun had dissipated the fog. They took a deep breath and enjoyed the view on the moor. After a few minutes, Martin had a bit more colour on his face and Louisa dared to say "You made it Martin, you didn't vomit". "Yes", he answered simply, "thanks to you…". He briefly took her hand and squeezed it. Without his jacket, he soon felt very cold, so he gestured that he wanted to go back inside.
In the meantime, the little boy had started to fuss and instinctively, his mother had cradled him in her arms and helped him to find what he so obviously as looking for. Without any problem, he latched on to her breast and started to nurse.
"Oh Martin, look how sweet!" Louisa exclaimed, but all what Martin saw was Louisa's beaming smile and amazement.
Josh made them some tea and sandwiches and served them in the living room. Louisa permitted herself to have a closer look at the wooden Nativity scene. "Where did you get this, Josh? It is just wonderful!"
Josh blushed a bit and said "I made it, Louisa, I'm a carpenter, I work for a contractor, but in the weekends I like to create things with wood." He lovingly caressed the table top.
Martin had finished his tea and stood up to check on the mother and baby. The little boy was peacefully sleeping in his mothers' arms, but on doctor's orders, she handed him over to Martin, who ran some checks on him to conclude that it was a healthy infant. He noted the basics in the special antenatal documentation and said that it would be a good idea to wash and dress the baby. Josh fetched new hot water and had the honour to give his son his first bath, under the medical supervision of Martin, who thought that the process was satisfactory.
In the meantime, Louisa helped Maria in the shower and changed the bedsheet for them. When Maria returned from the freshening up, she was glad that she could get back to bed. Suddenly, she felt very tired. Josh had put their son in the crib, which also appeared to be a beautiful hand made piece of furniture.
Martin checked Maria's vitals one last time and then decided that there wasn't anything left to do here. He gathered his material and medical bag and advised the young couple to have a good rest and he promised them to send a nurse to their house later that they for further follow-up. "I will come back tomorrow to see if everything goes well. But you two are exemplary, well done!"
Louisa and Martin left and Josh said to Maria "Not sure what happened to our grumpy Doc, but Louisa seems to have an amazingly good influence on him.." Maria answered "Maybe it's the magic of Christmas?"
Christmas..., Louisa and Martin had nearly forgotten all about it. Martin looked on the clock on his dashboard and stated that it was only three PM. A good part of Christmas day was still ahead of them. But even so far it had been good. She was there with him. He didn't need much more. He briefly looked at her, but not for long, he needed to concentrate on the road. He didn't want to get lost on the moor. For the first time of his life, he longed to go home, where Louisa's softly lit Christmas tree would welcome them and where, hopefully, his Christmas evening would go according to plan.
To be continued